TURLOCK—The Chico State volleyball team entered Fitzpatrick Arena Friday determined to not only put a halt to its current losing skid, but also to exact some revenge on Stanislaus State, which just two nights earlier in Chico defeated the Wildcats in Acker Gym. The Warriors made the 'Cats' brief stay in Turlock an unpleasant one, however, completing a sweep of the home-and-home season series with a three set, 25-16, 25-13, 25-16 victory.
Chico State slipped to 3-14 on the season and 1-9 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) as the Wildcats dropped their seventh straight decision. Stanislaus State improved to 14-5 overall and 6-4 in CCAA play.
Zoe DiNardo collected nine kills to lead Chico State Friday, with Brooklynn Anderson flooring a half-dozen winners in easily the finest outing of her young Wildcats career. Brooke Ono and Caitlyn Eichhorst combined to dole out 20 assists, while Ono topped the 'Cats with nine digs on the evening.
Fueled by kills from DiNardo, Ono, and Grace Shepherd, Chico State took an early 6-4 in Friday's opening set. Stanislaus State used a 5-0 run to go out in front 9-6, only to see the Wildcats score four of the next five points—Anderson, Bree Rodriguez, and Taylor Whyte each delivering a kill—to knot up the contest at 10-all. The Warriors reeled off six straight points to retake the lead, and though the 'Cats were able to pull to within four at 17-13, Stanislaus concluded the set with an 8-3 run to win going away 25-16.
The Warriors carried the momentum into set number two, scoring the first nine points. Chico State struggled to get its offense going, and despite kills by DiNardo, Whyte, and Anderson, the Wildcats could get no closer than seven points the rest of the way. An 8-3 Stanislaus run down the stretch gave the Warriors the 25-13 victory.
The 'Cats finally got the offense rolling early in the third set, with a Gretta Kirkby service ace and kills by Anderson, DiNardo, Whyte, and Nariah Prescott staking Chico State to a 10-6 lead. Stanislaus, however, used another lengthy scoring streak—this time an 11-1 run—to roar out in front 17-11. Prescott posted a pair of late kills to keep the 'Cats in contention, but Stanislaus put an end to the proceedings by scoring six of the final eight points to take the set 25-16 and sweep both the match and the home-and-home series.
Chico State returns home next weekend to host a pair of nationally-ranked conference opponents. The Wildcats take on No. 15 Cal State San Bernardino Friday at 5 p.m., with No. 17 Cal Poly Pomona visiting Acker Gym Saturday at 2 p.m.
