ARCATA—No one likes to be on the business end of a broom. In four of its last five matches heading into Saturday's California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) showdown with Humboldt State, a frustrated Chico State volleyball team was unable to win a single set. It was a different story against Humboldt—this time, it was the Wildcats who applied the sweeping, powering their way to a 25-23, 25-16, 25-18 victory at Lumberjack Arena in Arcata.
Chico State put a halt to its six-match losing skid with Saturday's win, improving to 5-7 overall and 1-3 in the CCAA. Humboldt State lost its second straight decision to slip to 3-5 on the season and 1-3 in conference play.
Lizzie Wilson and Zoe DiNardo both produced double-digit kills for the 'Cats. Wilson floored 11 winners while adding eight digs and a solo block. DiNardo collected 10 kills and also added a block to the 'Cats' attack. Kelley Jacome came through with eight kills, six digs, and a pair of service aces, with Makaela Keeve chalking up six kills, a team-high 10 digs, and two blocks.
Brooke Ono doled out 29 assists on the night while adding eight digs. Kennedy Greenwood and Makenzie Salva racked up nine digs apiece.
The evening's opening set was a tightly-played affair—at the midway point, the two teams had already posted eight tie scores and five lead changes. Humboldt State led 14-13 when Chico State used a big 8-2 run to go out in front 21-16. The Lumberjacks responded with five straight points to knot up the contest, but back-to-back kills by Wilson and Jacome put the Wildcats back on top 23-21. Humboldt quickly evened the score at 23-all, only to see DiNardo and Keeve connect for kills that gave the 'Cats the 25-23 win.
Another huge Chico State run was the deciding factor in the second set. The Lumberjacks had jumped out to an early 9-5 lead, but the Wildcats—on the strength of a Bree Rodriguez solo block, an Ali Collins ace, and kills by Jacome, DiNardo, and Keeve—tallied 11 of the next 12 points to roar out to a 16-10 lead. Humboldt could get no closer than five points the rest of the way, and late kills by Wilson and Jacome officially sealed the deal as the 'Cats prevailed 25-16.
The Wildcats never trailed in the third set. Solo blocks by Keeve and DiNardo and kills from Jacome and DiNardo staked Chico State to a 9-4 lead, and though Humboldt whittled the deficit to three, the 'Cats were able to slowly pull away, with a Jacome ace and kills by Wilson, Keeve, and Jacome highlighting an 11-4 run to make the score 20-10. The Lumberjacks made a late charge, scoring five straight points to pull to within 21-16, but kills by Keeve and DiNardo kill and two Humboldt miscues provided the points necessary for the Wildcats to secure the 25-18 victory and the match sweep.
The Wildcats stay on the road next week, traveling to Southern California Friday to take on Cal State San Marcos at 5 p.m. Chico State then heads back up to the Bay Area Saturday to square off with Cal State East Bay for a 7 p.m. match at Pioneer Gymnasium.
