After dropping five of seven non-conference matches and its first two California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) contests, the Chico State volleyball team was desperately looking to flip the script—and where better to do it than in the friendly confines of Acker Gym. The Wildcats returned to the win column Friday, and they did it in dramatic fashion, coming from two sets down to defeat the visiting Cal State Monterey Bay Otters 22-25, 20-25, 25-22, 25-21, 15-11.
 
Not only did Friday's victory snap the 'Cats' five-match losing streak, it was a huge win over a Monterey Bay team that just a week ago beat one of the top 10 Division II teams in the country in Cal State Monterey Bay. Chico State improved to 3-7 on the year and 1-2 in the CCAA, while the Otters slipped to 5-5 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
 
Grace Shepherd led three Chico State hitters in double-digit kills with a career-high 20 on the night. Zoe DiNardo matched her season high with 17 kills, while freshman middle Nariah Prescott enjoyed the best match of her young Wildcat career with 15 kills. Bree Rodriguez added nine kills and four blocks to the 'Cats' attack, with Brooke Ono dishing out a season-best 52 assists, while also contributing 16 digs, three blocks and one service ace. Jessie Camarillo and Lexi Carpenter racked up 19 and 18 digs, respectively.
 
The evening didn't start well for the Wildcats, who found themselves playing catchup during the entire first set. Down 8-5 early in the contest, the 'Cats knotted things up on a pair of DiNardo kills and a Prescott/Lauryn Osendorf combo block. Cal State Monterey Bay immediately regained the lead and never relinquished it—Chico State trailed by only a point at 17-16 before the Otters went on a 7-3 run to take firm control. Thanks to kills by Shepherd and Rodriguez and a Monterey Bay miscue, the Wildcats staved off three set points before the Otters delivered the winner to prevail 25-22.
 
The 'Cats broke out to an 8-6 lead in the second set on the strength of multiple kills from Rodriguez and DiNardo, but Monterey Bay scored six of the next seven points to go up 12-9. Chico State went back in front courtesy of a 5-0 run, highlighted by two Shepherd kills and a Rodriguez solo block. The Wildcats were still up 15-14 when the Otters produced a 7-2 run to jump ahead 21-17, and though Chico State was able to close the gap to two late in the set, Monterey Bay held on for the 25-20 victory.
 
The third set was a back-and-forth affair, with 10 tie scores and five lead changes. Trailing 12-11, the Wildcats grabbed the advantage with a 12-6 run—Shepherd, Rodriguez, DiNardo, and Prescott all collected kills, while Ono delivered an ace and combined with Rodriguez and Osendorf on a pair of blocks—to charge out in front 23-18. This time it was the Otters who were forced to play catchup, but late kills by Prescott and Shepherd short-circuited the Monterey Bay rally, giving Chico State the 25-22 win.
 
The 'Cats found themselves down 11-7 in the fourth set, but dug deep to score 10 of the next 14 points to go out in front 17-15. Chico State was never headed, slowly pulling away late thanks to kills by Shepherd, DiNardo, Ono, Prescott, and Osendorf. Prescott provided the decider to give the Wildcats the 25-21 win.
 
Chico State carried the momentum into the fifth and deciding set—three kills by Shepherd, two from Rodriguez, and one kill from Prescott combined with a Carpenter ace and a Rodriguez solo block helped the 'Cats race out to an 8-2 lead. But Monterey Bay refused to be put away, knotting up the contest at 10-apiece. That, however, would prove to be the Otters' last hurrah, as the 'Cats score five of the final six points—DiNardo notching two kills to lead the charge—and a Monterey Bay attack error provided Chico State with the point that gave the Wildcats the 15-11 set win and the thrilling come-from-behind match victory.   
 
Chico State is back in action Saturday, as the Wildcats host the Gators of San Francisco State (4-6, 0-3 CCAA). First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m. It's also "Pack the Pantry Night" at Acker Gym—the Wildcats are asking fans attending the match 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 food and other donations will be set up Saturday in the Acker Gym lobby, with fans also having the option to donate money on site or online.