CHICO, Calif. – After playing the last four matches on the road, the Chico State volleyball team returned to Acker Gym for the final time in 2024, sweeping Cal State Monterey Bay (25-16, 25-18, 25-21) Friday night.
 
Kassandra Nall, who had missed the road trip, returned to the floor and racked up 14 kills while hitting .423 on the evening. Cashe Olswang also had a good night, posting a .379 average with 13 kills.
 
Claire Nordeen put together another double-double, dishing out 32 assists while leading the team with 11 digs.
 
Collectively, the Wildcats hit an average of .312 while limiting the Otters to .118.
 
The first match was a runaway for Chico State as the Wildcats started the match with a 9-0 lead. Set two saw each side trade off runs early, but in the end the Wildcats won 10 of the final 11 serves, including eight straight, to take a 2-0 match lead.
 
In the third set, both teams did not let the game become one-sided. The Otters had won five straight early into the set. The Wildcats immediately got the five points back to take an 8-6 lead. Monterey Bay trailed 16-12 when it scored four points to tie the game. Chico State got the side out and scored four points of its own, including a kill from Maria Wahl and Gwyneth Wentzel to reclaim the lead. The Otters tallied three unanswered points to reduce the score to 22-21. Wentzel got the sideout with a kill and Jessie Camarillo collected a service ace to put the Wildcats in match point. An Otter attack error secured the contest for the Wildcats.
 
The win puts Chico State back on the win column after having dropped the last five contests. Despite improving to 9-15 overall and 6-11 in the CCAA, the Wildcats didn't get the help they needed across the conference and have been mathematically eliminated from postseason contention.
 
Chico State will close out the 2024 season with Cal State East Bay on Saturday at 5 p.m. The Pioneers head to Chico after getting swept by Stanislaus State in Turlock tonight. East Bay took the last meeting with Chico State in four sets back in the conference opener in September.