Following two tournaments and seven non-conference matches to open the 2022 campaign, the Chico State volleyball team is now set to tackle its latest challenge: California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play. The conference schedule officially gets underway this weekend, as the Wildcats travel to Southern California to take on Cal State Dominguez Hills Friday at 5 p.m., and Cal State LA Saturday at 2 p.m.
Fans can follow the action online with Live Stats and live streaming video on the CCAA Network, with the 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 enters CCAA play 2-5 on the season. Last weekend, the Wildcats dropped three of four decisions at the NorCal Kickoff in San Rafael—after sweeping host school Dominican Friday to open the two-day tournament, the 'Cats fell to Holy Names, Academy of Art, and Fresno Pacific.
Despite the lack of wins, Chico State displayed solid stretches of play during the NorCal Kickoff, and as a result a trio of Wildcats rank among the conference leaders in several statistical categories.
Grace Shepherd added another 51 kills to her season total last weekend, giving her 84 on the year—sixth most among all conference hitters. Shepherd also ranks fifth in the CCAA in kills per set (3.36).
Brooke Ono is third in the CCAA in both assists (222) and assists per set (8.88), while ranking ninth in digs (81) and 10th in digs per set (3.24).
Lexi Carpenter has certainly gotten her Wildcat career off to a productive start. The junior defensive specialist is sixth in the CCAA with 105 digs, and her 4.20 digs-per-set average ranks second in the conference.
Cal State Dominguez Hills, which hosts the Wildcats Friday at the Torodome in Carson, are in the midst of a four-match losing streak and also sports a 2-5 season record. Dominguez Hills had a rough go of it last weekend at its own Toro Classic, losing to Western Colorado, nationally-ranked Winona State, Stanislaus State, and Chaminade.
The Toros are a much stronger team than it was a year ago. Dominguez Hills was 2-21 in 2021 and finished 11th in the CCAA standings.
Freshman outside hitter Cassie Taylor leads the Toros with 63 kills, with another freshman outside, Ava Hurry, adding 59 kills to the Dominguez Hills offensive attack. Two other outside hitters, sophomore Camila Sanchez-Tellez and junior Shelby Saporetti, have combined for 94 kills and 32 blocks so far on the season.
The Wildcats beat the Toros last year in the lone meeting between the two teams. Chico State holds a 37-11 advantage in the all-time series with Dominguez Hills.
Cal State LA, which takes on the 'Cats Saturday following a Friday match against Stanislaus State, is 5-3 on the young season. After falling to Central Washington in the opener of its own Cal State LA Invitational, the Golden Eagles wrapped up last weekend with match sweeps of Chaminade, Seattle Pacific, and Biola.
Cal State LA is looking to match the success of its 2021 volleyball team, which finished with an overall record of 20-10 and placed fourth in the CCAA. The Golden Eagles peaked during postseason play, reaching the finals of the NCAA West Regional.
Sophomore opposite hitter Emily Elliott, an All-CCAA selection last year, currently leads the conference with 104 kills. Freshman outside Iane Henke has racked up 83 kills and is third in the CCAA with 17 service aces. Senior outside hitter Ashley Dittmann (65 kills) provides Cal State LA with yet a third scoring option.
Chico State and Cal State LA met once during the 2021 season, with the Golden Eagles prevailing in four sets. Cal State LA leads the all-time series with the Wildcats 38-12.
