CHICO, Calif. — The Chico State volleyball team lost to Cal State LA in straight sets (20-25, 20-25, 23-25) on Friday in Art Acker Gym.
Chico State was within five points in each set, including a third-set push from a 9-7 deficit to a 12-9 lead before falling 25-23.
Kassandra Nall led the Wildcats with eight kills and 9.5 points while adding three block assists. Maria Wahl finished with seven kills on a .357 hitting percentage. Claire Nordeen recorded 21 assists, nine digs, three kills and two blocks. Nordeen has recorded 21 or more set assists in six consecutive games. Sophia Heller collected a team-high 10 digs and added two assists. Jillian Davis recorded three solo blocks for the first time this season. Wyievee Binda has reached a season total of 25 blocks.
After Samarah DaCoud opened the set with a kill for the Golden Eagles, the 'Cats answered with kills by Nall and Binda and two Golden Eagles attack errors to move ahead 4-1, then later used kills from Nordeen and Whitney Fairfield to lead 9-4. The Golden Eagles cut a 12-7 Chico State lead to 14-14 behind kills from Isabella Barrios and DaCoud, and after a service error put the Wildcats back in front, Teegan Charapata's kill and Ruby Ennis' ace gave the Golden Eagles a 16-15 lead. Wahl tied it at 16-16, and the set was even again at 18-18 before the Golden Eagles scored three straight on an Amber Walker kill and two blocks to move in front 21-18. The Wildcats got within 21-19 on a service error and later answered set point with a Binda kill, but the Golden Eagles closed the set 25-20 on another DaCoud kill.
The second set stayed tight early, with Chico State answering a 4-3 deficit on Fairfield's kill before the Golden Eagles moved ahead 7-4 behind an Avalon Heintz service ace and a Wildcats attack error. The 'Cats worked back within 8-7 on Davis' kill and later tied it 9-9 on a block by Binda and Nall, but the Golden Eagles went back in front 12-9 before Chico State rallied to a 16-15 lead on kills by Nordeen and Fairfield. The Golden Eagles responded with six straight points to take a 21-16 lead, getting a Kylie Grundman ace, two Walker kills and a block by Barrios and Walker during the stretch. Sally Winnacker and Fairfield added late kills for the Wildcats, but the Golden Eagles reached set point at 24-19 and closed the set 25-20 on a DaCoud kill.
After the Golden Eagles moved ahead 9-7 in the third set, Nordeen put down a kill and served the next four points as Chico State moved in front 12-9, with blocks by Nall and Binda and by Davis contributing to the run. The Wildcats pushed the advantage to 15-11 on Winnacker's service ace and later to 18-12 on a Wahl kill. The Golden Eagles cut the margin to 20-19, and although Nall's kill gave the 'Cats a 23-21 lead, the visitors scored the final four points, closing the set 25-23 on a DaCoud kill.
The Wildcats host Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Acker Gym.
