An emotional Saturday night that began with the Chico State volleyball team honoring senior players Grace Shepherd and Gretta Kirkby evolved into a roller-coaster ride of a match at Acker Gym, as the Wildcats and Cal State Dominguez Hills were both determined to end their 2022 seasons on a winning note. Nearly two-and-a-half hours later, it was the visiting Toros who earned the "W," outlasting the 'Cats in a five-set thriller 25-16, 18-25, 25-23, 20-25, 15-6.
The loss results in Chico State ending the season with an overall 3-22 record, and a 1-17 mark in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State Dominguez Hills' 2022 campaign came to a close with a 6-19 season record and a 4-14 mark in CCAA play.
Zoe DiNardo and Brooklynn Anderson each recorded 13 kills for the 'Cats, with Anderson posting a personal season high. Shepherd delivered 11 kills in her final Chico State match, while Jane Mcnulty flooring five kills. Brooke Ono and Caitlyn Eichhorst combined to dish out 43 assists, with Ono adding 18 digs. Lexi Carpenter logged a team-high 21 digs on the night.
The Wildcats and Toros played fairly evenly early in the first set, with both teams trading leads before Dominguez Hills broke a 7-7 tie with an 8-2 run, building a 15-9 advantage. Shepherd, Anderson, and Kirkby supplied kills for the 'Cats down the stretch, but the Toros were able to keep Chico State at arm's length the rest of the way. A 4-0 Dominguez Hills run closed out the set, with the Toros prevailing 25-16.
The Wildcats bounced back in the second set, racing out to a 10-6 lead on the strength of kills by Mcnulty, DiNardo, Anderson, and Shepherd. Dominguez Hills quickly scored four unanswered points to tie the contest, but Chico State responded with a 9-1 run—Kirkby and Carpenter both flooring service aces, and DiNardo chipping in with a pair of kills—to put the 'Cats back in front 19-11. The Toros could get no closer than six points, and the Wildcats rolled to the match-tying 25-18 victory.
The third set was another tightly-played affair, with four ties and a pair of lead changes keeping things interesting. Down 5-1 early, Chico State used an ace by Jessie Camarillo, a solo block by Anderson, and kills by DiNardo, Shepherd, and Bree Rodriguez to fuel an 11-4 run and give the 'Cats a 12-9 lead. Chico State extended its advantage to five at one point and were still ahead 23-20 when Dominguez Hills stunned the Wildcats with a 5-0 run to steal a 25-23 win.
The 'Cats continued to battle, and led from start to finish in the fourth set. Kills by Anderson, Mcnulty, DiNardo and Kirkby powered Chico State to an early 8-2 advantage, but the Toros slowly chipped away at the deficit, pulling to within one at 20-19. This time, though, it was the Wildcats which flexed its muscle down the stretch, with DiNardo landing three straight kills in a 5-1 run to give Chico State a 25-20 victory and force a fifth and deciding set.
Dominguez Hills jumped on top 6-2, but the Wildcats answered with two Anderson kills and another ace by Camarillo to cut the Toros' lead to one. That would prove to be the 'Cats' last hurrah, as Dominguez Hills tallied nine of the final 10 points to win the set 15-6 and take the match.
Chico State ends the 2022 season knowing that, despite the challenges and disappointments, better days lay ahead. With as many as 14 players returning and a potential bumper crop of recruits on the horizon, the Wildcats can't help but be optimistic that next fall will yield some very different—and winning—results.
