SEASIDE—With both the Chico State and Cal State Monterey Bay volleyball teams out of postseason contention, Saturday's match between the Wildcats and Otters qualified as a "play for pride" game. The 'Cats were attempting to sweep the season series, while Monterey Bay were seeking a win on the team's Senior Night at The Kelp Bed. In a hard-fought contest, it would turn out to be the Otters' night, as Monterey Bay downed the Wildcats 25-21, 25-19, 25-20.
Chico State dropped to 3-20 on the season and 1-15 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State Monterey Bay won its third straight decision to improve to 10-13 overall and 6-10 in CCAA play.
Grace Shepherd delivered a team-high eight kills for the Wildcats, and Zoe DiNardo added seven kills to the Chico State offensive attack. Nariah Prescott racked up five kills and four blocks, with Jane Mcnulty registering four kills. Brooklynn Anderson collected three kills, two blocks, and four service aces, while Bree Rodriguez contributed three kills and three blocks.
Caitlyn Eichhorst and Brooke Ono combined for 24 assists Saturday, with Lexi Carpenter piling up a team-high 17 digs.
Chico State came out playing aggressively in the first set. A service ace by Jessie Camarillo and multiple kills by Rodriguez, Prescott, and Shepherd staked the Wildcats to an early 12-8 lead, but Monterey Bay came out of a timeout to put together a 6-1 run and jump on top 14-13. The Wildcats immediately tied the score, only to see the Otters post six of the next seven points to fashion a 20-15 advantage. The 'Cats answered—Shepherd delivered a kill, Prescott and Anderson combined on a block, and three Monterey Bay miscues pulled Chico State to within 22-20. The Otters scored the next two points, and following a Mcnulty kill, Monterey Bay tallied the set winner to prevail 25-21.
On the strength of three Anderson aces and two DiNardo kills, the 'Cats roared out to a 7-2 lead in the second set. The Otters moved out in front 12-10 thanks to a 10-3 run, but Chico State used another Anderson ace, a kill by DiNardo, and a Rordriguez/DiNardo combo block to climb back on top 14-13. Monterey Bay quickly tied the score, and with the contest still tied at 17-all, the Otters ended the proceedings with an 8-2 run to take the set 25-19.
Monterey Bay led from start to finish in the third set, but the Wildcats made the Otters work for every point. Down 7-3, kills by DiNardo, Shepherd, and Anderson highlighted a 4-1 'Cats run to whittle the deficit to one at 8-7. Monterey Bay put together a run of its own, scoring nine of the next 11 points to extend its advantage to 17-9. Chico State continued to battle—aces by Eichhorst and Camarillo, combo blocks by Prescott/Rodriguez and Prescott/Anderson, and kills by Prescott and DiNardo helped the Wildcats make it a 21-18 contest. The Otters scored the next three points, and though the 'Cats survived two match points on kills by Mcnulty and Ono, Monterey Bay's Mollin Helfrich floored the attack that gave the Otters the 25-20 win and the match sweep.
Chico State returns home next weekend to finish out the regular season with matches against Cal State LA Friday and Cal State Dominguez Hills on Senior Night Saturday at Acker Gym. Both matches are scheduled for 5 p.m.
