CARSON, Calif. – The Chico State volleyball team clinched the first two games against Cal State Dominguez Hills, but the host Toros responded after the five-minute rest period and took the match in five (25-17, 25-23, 17-25, 22-25, 11-15) in their only meeting of the season Friday.
Chico State has dropped three straight contests and is now 6-8 overall and 3-4 in the CCAA. Dominguez Hills jumps to 5-9 overall and 2-4 in conference play.
Kassandra Nall had 19 kills to match her career high, freshman Claire Nordeen put together an impressive run of 45 assists and 18 digs for season bests, and Gwyneth Wentzel contributed to nine blocks.
Dominguez Hills was led by Ava Hurry, who had 22 kills and 10 digs.
Both sides averaged around 16 percent on the attack.
Chico State trailed by three in the opening set until an 8-2 run put the Wildcats ahead 12-8. Both sides never got into any distant momentum until the end, when the Wildcats won five of the final six serves to take the opening round.
In the second set, Cashe Olswang got the kill to break a tie and ignite an 8-1 run to take a 17-10 lead. Facing set point, the Toros scored four unanswered points to get to within one. Wentzel would score the game-winning point via kill to put the 'Cats ahead 2-0 in sets.
Dominguez Hills scored four straight points to take a 10-5 lead in the third set and force Chico State to play catch-up. The Wildcats did rally to get to within two, but the Toros would go on to win eight of the final 10 serves to avoid the sweep.
Each team got into a rhythm early in the fourth game. Chico State was leading by one when Dominguez Hills won four straight points to lead 16-13. The Wildcats could not find a run to leap over the Toros as Dominguez Hills held on to tie the match and force a deciding set.
The Toros would go on a 7-1 run that would setup the deciding set win.
Chico State returns to action Saturday, when it takes on the defending national champions Cal State LA at 1 p.m. The Golden Eagles were upset by Stanislaus State in five sets tonight.
