The Chico State volleyball team entered the fall with confidence and high expectations, but things didn't exactly go the Wildcats' way in 2022. As the season comes to a close this weekend at Acker Gym, the 'Cats still have a chance to end the year on an upbeat note, and provide some positive momentum they hope will carry into the 2023 campaign. The 'Cats host California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)-leading Cal State LA Friday, with Cal State Dominguez Hills the season-ending opponent on Saturday. First serve for both matches is 5 p.m.
Tickets for Friday and Saturday's matches are available online, with links available on the Wildcat Athletics website home page schedule and on the volleyball home page. Fans unable to attend in person can follow the action online with Live Stats and live streaming video on the CCAA Network using links available at the same location. Accessing the live video stream requires a monthly subscription fee.
Saturday's match is also Senior Night, when the Wildcats salute outgoing senior players Grace Shepherd and Gretta Kirkby with a special pre-match ceremony.
Chico State will be looking to even the season score with both Cal State LA and Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Wildcats lost in four sets to the Toros to open CCAA play back on September 9, and were swept by the Golden Eagles September 10.
The 'Cats enter the weekend 3-20 on the season and 1-15 in the CCAA. Chico State played its final two road games of the season last weekend, falling to San Francisco State on Friday and Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday.
Cal State LA is 19-5 overall and sitting atop the CCAA standings with a 14-2 conference record. Holding a two-game lead over both Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino, the Golden Eagles can clinch the CCAA regular season title outright with a win over the Wildcats Friday or versus Stanislaus State on Saturday.
Ranked No. 19 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Top 25 poll, Cal State LA swept both Cal State East Bay and Cal State San Marcos last weekend. After a 2-3 start to the season, the Golden Eagles have won 17 of their last 19 decisions.
The Cal State LA offense centers on two hitters that rank among the top five in the conference in kills. Sophomore right side Emily Elliott has 259 kills on the season and is third in the CCAA in points per set (3.97), while freshman outside hitter Iane Henke has 253 kills and is fourth conference-wide is points per set (3.90). Henke's team-high 50 service aces rank second in the CCAA.
Cal State LA has won the last four meetings with the Wildcats and leads the all-time series 39-12.
Cal State Dominguez Hills, which visits Acker Gym following a Friday tilt in Turlock versus Stanislaus State, is also wrapping up its season this weekend. The Toros are 5-18 on the year and 3-13 in the CCAA. Dominguez Hills played its final home matches last weekend, beating Cal State San Marcos Friday before dropping a four-set decision to Cal State East Bay on Saturday.
Dominguez Hills is led by a pair of freshman outside hitters. Ava Hurry claims a team-high 210 kills, with Cassie Taylor adding 145 kills to the Toros' attack. Junior outside Shelby Saporetti and junior middle blocker Samaya Royal have combined for an additional 269 kills on the season, while sophomore middle blocker Jesi Diekmann is the team's biggest presence at the net with 67 blocks.
The Toros have won three of the last four matches with the 'Cats, but Chico State holds a 37-12 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams.
