ROHNERT PARK – The Chico State volleyball team had several opportunities to post its biggest win of the season Friday, but the Wildcats couldn’t quite deliver the death blow against Sonoma State. The ’Cats had the Seawolves down two sets to one, and when the match went to a fifth and final set, had two chances at match point – but in the end, it would be Sonoma that left the floor with a 25-21, 20-25, 25-21, 12-25, 15-17 victory, handing Chico State a frustrating road loss at the Wolves’ Den in Rohnert Park.
Friday’s loss dropped Chico State to 10-11 on the season and 5-10 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Sonoma State snapped a three-match losing streak with the victory to improve to 11-7 on the year and 8-6 in conference play.
Makenzie Fahnestock led three Chico State hitters in double figures with 18 kills; Alex Shurtz collected 15 non-returnables, while Jessica Leek registered a dozen kills on the night. Sable Villaescusa racked up another double-double with 47 assists and 13 digs; Crystal Trifeletti had eight kills and three blocks; Jacqueline Johnson chipped in with eight kills, and Molly Ratto registered a career-high 21 digs in the losing effort. Sonoma State was led by Allyson Sather, who registered a match-high 19 kills; Keala Peterson and Kendahl Batiste combined for 27 kills; and Brooke Moore posted six blocks for the victorious Seawolves.
With the score 10-10 in the match’s opening set, Chico State went used two kills apiece from Fahnestock and Johnson, and one by Trifeletti to take an 18-13 lead. Sonoma State scored five unanswered points to knot up the contest at 18-all, but Chico State answered with four straight to regain the lead. The Seawolves crept to within two at 22-21, but consecutive kills by Shurtz, Fahnestock and Leek salted the set away, as the ’Cats came away with the 25-21 win.
Chico State and Sonoma State played it tight early in the second set, with neither team leading by more than two points. With the score tied at 16 apiece, the Seawolves reeled off three straight points to take a 19-16 lead; the Wildcats used two Sonoma errors and a Trifeletti block to tie the set at 19-all. The Seawolves then proceeded to put the hammer down, going on a 6-1 run down the stretch; a Hayley Ross service ace cementing Sonoma’s 25-20 victory.
Kills by Leek, Villaescusa and Ratto powered the Wildcats to an early 9-7 lead in the third set, but Sonoma State ripped off an 8-3 run to go up 15-12. Fahnestock responded with three straight kills for Chico State, and a Johnson kill gave the ’Cats a 16-15 advantage. Sonoma would retake the lead, but with the score 19-18, the Wildcats came up with kills by Fahnestock, Shurtz and Johnson to go back in front 22-20. The Seawolves pulled to within a point at 22-21, but two Shurtz kills and a Sonoma error gave Chico State a 25-21 win and the match lead.
Sonoma State came out firing on all cylinders in the fourth set, building a quick 8-2 lead, and following a Fahnestock kill, the Seawolves extended its advantage to 12-4. The Wildcats scored three straight points to pull to within 12-7, but Sonoma responded with a 9-1 run to take a comfortable 21-8 lead; the Seawolves would go on to post the 25-12 win and force a fifth and deciding set.
Two Fahnestock kills and one by Johnson launched Chico State to a 6-4 lead in the final set, and after Sonoma State knotted things up at six apiece, the Wildcats scored seven of the next 10 points to go up 13-9 – the Seawolves committing five errors to put the ’Cats within two points of the upset victory. With the score 14-12, Sonoma State survived two match points, then took a 15-14 lead. Chico State staved off match point courtesy of a Leek kill, but Sonoma State answered with a Peterson kill and a Moore block to pull out a 17-15 victory to take the match and halt the Wildcats’ winning streak at two.
BOX SCORE
Chico State is back in action Saturday night, traveling to Arcata to take on the Lumberjacks of Humboldt State. The match is slated to start at 7 p.m; fans can watch all the action live on the Internet with former Chico State great Gillian Heydorff providing color commentary on UStream.com.
CLICK HERE to be connected to the Wildcats’ Internet broadcast.
