Only three matches into the 2022 season, it's hard to believe that the Chico State volleyball team has just one more chance to solidify its lineup and round off any rough edges before diving into California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) conference play. That last chance comes this Friday and Saturday, when the Wildcats travel to San Rafael to play four matches against Pacific West Conference opponents at the Dominican University-hosted NorCal Kickoff.
 
The 'Cats begin the two-day tournament Friday with a 1 p.m. match against Dominican, followed by a 5 p.m. contest versus Holy Names. Saturday Chico State squares off against Academy of Art at 1 p.m., then wraps up the NorCal Kickoff at 6 p.m. by taking on Fresno Pacific. All matches will take place at the Conlan Center on the Dominican University campus.
 
Tickets for the two-day tournament are available online by CLICKING HERE, or can be purchased at the gate with a credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Play (no cash transactions). Single-day tickets are priced at $10 for ages 14 and up.
 
Fans can also follow the action online with live streaming video, available for purchase by CLICKING HERE. Single match viewing is priced at $10 each, with an all-tournament streaming pass available for $70. Live Stats will also be available online, with the link available on the Wildcat Athletics website and the volleyball home page.
 
Chico State enters the NorCal Kickoff with a 1-2 record on the young season. After opening the 2022 campaign with losses last Thursday to Southern Oregon and William Jessup, the Wildcats rebounded the following day with a convincing sweep of Simpson University.
 
Dominican, the Wildcats' first Friday opponent, enters the NorCal Kickoff 0-3 on the season. The Penguins (1-28 in 2021) opened the 2022 season with losses to Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal Poly Pomona, and Cal State Monterey Bay at last week's Otter Invitational.
 
All-time, Chico State has won 12 of 13 meetings with Dominican, including a three-set victory to open the 2021 season at last year's NorCal Kickoff.
 
Holy Names, which takes on the 'Cats in the Friday evening match, is off to a great start, winning four straight to open the 2022 season. The Hawks (9-19 in 2021) downed Humboldt State, Cal State East Bay, Wisconsin-Parkside, and Western New Mexico at last week's Green Chili Classic in Silver City, New Mexico.
 
Chico State has won each of the five all-time meetings with Holy Names, including a sweep of the Hawks at the 2021 NorCal Kickoff.
 
Academy of Art, which goes up against Chico State Saturday afternoon, is 0-4 entering the NorCal Kickoff. Last week the Urban Knights (9-19 in 2021) opened the 2022 season falling to Michigan Tech, Cal State Monterey Bay, Cal Poly Pomona, and Cal State Dominguez Hills at the Otter Invitational.
 
Saturday will mark the sixth time Chico State and Academy of Art have met on the volleyball court. The Urban Knights won the last meeting, downing the Wildcats in four sets at last season's NorCal Kickoff.
 
Fresno Pacific, which goes head-to-head with Chico State Saturday evening, is playing its first matches of the 2022 campaign during this season's NorCal Kickoff. The Sunbirds went 8-22 in 2021 and were 5-15 in PacWest Conference play.
 
Chico State is 2-1 against Fresno Pacific in the all-time series between the two teams. The Wildcats were a four-set winner over the Sunbirds last September during the 2021 NorCal Kickoff.