To say that the Chico State volleyball team is looking forward to playing in front of the home crowd is very much an understatement. So far, all nine Wildcat matches in 2022—over a third of the season—have taken place in visiting venues. This weekend, however, the 'Cats will at long last compete in the friendly confines of Acker Gym, as Chico State hosts Cal State Monterey Bay Friday and San Francisco State Saturday in a pair of California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) contests. Both matches begin at 5 p.m.
 
Tickets for both home matches are available online. The links are to the right of this article.
 
Fans can also follow the action online with Live Stats and live streaming video on the CCAA Network, with links available on the Wildcat Athletics website home page and on the volleyball home page. Accessing the live video stream requires a monthly subscription fee of $9.95. 
 
Chico State comes home looking to reverse its recent fortunes. The Wildcats have lost their last five matches and enter Friday's home opener 2-7 on the season and 0-2 in the CCAA. The 'Cats began conference play last weekend in Southern California, bowing to Cal State Dominguez Hills Friday and Cal State LA on Saturday.
 
The 'Cats will need a big week from their two main hitters to get back into the win column. Grace Shepherd is currently seventh in the CCAA in kills (92), and sixth among conference hitters in kills per set (2.97). Zoe DiNardo ranks 10th in the CCAA in both kills (86) and kills per set (2.77).
 
Brooke Ono is fifth among conference setters in assists (277) and third in assists per set (8.66). Ono is also close to moving up the Chico State career assists leader board—the two-time All-CCAA selection is just 40 assists away from passing Becky Stutte (2,297) and moving into sixth place on the Wildcats' all-time assists list.
 
Cal State Monterey Bay, Chico State's Friday night opponent, is 5-4 on the season and 1-1 in the CCAA. The Otters split their two home matches last weekend, falling to Cal Poly Pomona in four sets before snapping a three-match losing streak in a huge way Saturday, toppling nationally-Top 10 ranked Cal State San Bernardino in five sets.
 
Senior outside hitter Lauren Reeves is Monterey Bay's top offensive threat, ranking eighth in the CCAA in kills (89) and seventh in kills per set. Senior outside Kaylie Honberger and sophomore middle blocker Savanna Maker have complemented Reeves nicely, combining for 142 kills so far on the year.
 
The Wildcats and Otters split their two head-to-head matchups last season. Chico State holds a 28-6 lead in the all-time series between the two schools.
 
San Francisco State, which takes on the Wildcats following a Friday road tilt against Stanislaus State, is 4-5 overall and 0-2 in the CCAA. The Gators, who enter the week having lost four of their last six contests, dropped four-set decisions last weekend to both Cal State San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona.
 
The Gators are led by freshman right side hitter Tamiya Wilson, who tops the CCAA in kills (130) and ranks third in the conference in kills per set (3.61). San Francisco State also boasts one of the top setters in the CCAA—sophomore Kimberly DeBoer leads the conference is assists (341) and is second in assists per set (9.47).
 
San Francisco State won both meetings with Chico State last season, but even though the Gators have taken four of the last five matches, the Wildcats hold a comfortable 44-23 advantage in the all-time series.
 
PACK THE PANTRY NIGHT ON SATURDAY!
The Wildcats are asking fans attending Saturday's match against San Francisco State to bring nutritious food items, hygiene items, and/or can openers to help Chico State Athletics support the Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry, a key component of the Chico State Basic Needs project.
 
The Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry provides food and basic necessities to students (including some student-athletes) who are not getting enough food or the right food, and/or facing challenges regarding homelessness, unstable housing, and financial crisis. The demands on the Pantry are more than double this year—it has already accommodated nearly 3,000 visitors so far this semester.
 
A table for donations will be set up in the Acker Gym lobby on Saturday, or fans can donate money on site or online.