The Chico State volleyball team can be referred to in a number of different ways—competitive, gritty, and tenacious are terms that immediately spring to mind. This week, the Wildcats can easily be nicknamed The Road Warriors. Head Coach Tommy Gott's troupe will undertake its second road trip in as many weeks, and this one is a long one. Friday the 'Cats will be in Southern California, taking on Cal State San Marcos at 5 p.m., then they turn around and head to the Bay Area to battle Cal State East Bay in Hayward Saturday at 7 p.m.
Fans can follow the action on the Internet with live streaming video and Live Stats. The online links are posted on the Chico State volleyball schedule page and home page calendar on the Wildcat Athletics website, at
chicowildcats.com.
Those who plan on attending either Friday's match in San Marcos or Saturday's contest in Hayward in person will be required, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face coverings while inside the gym.
Chico State got back on the winning track Saturday with a sweep of Humboldt State, splitting the first half of its four-match road trip. With the victory over the Lumberjacks , the Wildcats improved to 5-7 on the season and 1-3 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The 'Cats currently sit in a tie for seventh place in the conference standings.
Makaela Keeve continues to fill up the stat sheet for Chico State. The senior middle hitter ranks third in the CCAA in points per set (3.41), fifth in kills (142), sixth in blocks (35), ninth in kills per set (3.46), and ninth in blocks per set (0.85).
Sophomore Brooke Ono is second among CCAA setters in assists (409) and fourth in assists per set (9.98).
Cal State San Marcos begins the week with an overall mark of 5-5 and 2-2 in CCAA play. The Cougars saw their three-match winning streak come to an abrupt halt last weekend, bowing in consecutive road sweeps at the hands of Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino.
Cal State San Marcos features one of the top setters in the conference. Sophomore Madison Turner leads the CCAA in assists per set (11.09) and is fourth in assists (377).
Friday marks the first time the Wildcats and Cougars have squared off this season. Cal State San Marcos holds a slim 4-3 lead in the all-time series between the two teams. The last time Chico State bested San Marcos was in the quarterfinals of the 2017 CCAA Championship Tournament.
Cal State East Bay, which hosts the Wildcats following a Thursday night contest against Stanislaus State, is in the midst of a five-match losing streak and enters the week 5-7 on the season and 0-4 in the CCAA. The Pioneers were also victims of sweeps last weekend against Cal State San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona.
East Bay's offense is led by junior outside hitter Breyan Ashley. The transfer from Marquette ranks fourth in the CCAA in kills (143), fifth in points per set (4.22), and eighth in kills per set (3.49).
Chico State leads the all-time series with Cal State East Bay 35-14. The Wildcats have won the last two meetings and 11 of the last 16 against the Pioneers. The 'Cats have one just once since 2015, however, on East Bay's home floor.
