TURLOCK – The Chico State and Stanislaus State volleyball teams met for the second time in four days Tuesday, and like Saturday's clash at Acker Gym, the Wildcats and Warriors showed how evenly matched the two squads are. But instead of being the sweeper like they were over the weekend, the 'Cats were the sweepee in Tuesday's return engagement, as the host Warriors took the contest in three sets 24-26, 17-25, 22-25 at Fitzpatrick Arena in Turlock.
Tuesday's loss dropped Chico State to 14-5 on the season and 6-3 in the California Colleigate Athletic Association (CCAA). Stanislaus State improved to 10-5 overall and 4-5 in conference play.
Shannon Boling led Chico State with 12 kills on the night while also supplying three blocks. Shelby Frank produced a career-high 12 kills, with Torey Thompson doling out 28 assists and handling 10 digs for the 'Cats. Hannah Wilkins racked up four blocks, with Olivia Mediano and Shannon Cotton contributing 10 digs apiece.
The first set saw Chico State take an early 4-2 lead, but Stanislaus would soon pull even and use a 6-3 run to snap a nine-all tie to go out in front 15-12. Two Mediano kills, one Frank winner and a Wilkins/Boling combo block helped the 'Cats knot up the contest at 16-apiece, and following five tie scores, Chico State went up 24-22. The Wildcats were unable to seal the deal, though, as the Warriors survived two set points on the front end of a 4-0 run to steal a 26-24 victory.
Save for one early tie, Stanislaus led from start to finish in the second set. An 8-3 run provided the Warriors with a 14-9 advantage, but Chico State took advantage of a pair of Stanislaus miscues to pull to within three at 14-11. That would be as close as the Wildcats would get, as Stanislaus scored 11 of the last 17 points to win going away, 25-17.
Trying to avoid a sweep, Chico State came out on fire in the third set, with a Thompson ace, a Wilkins/Boling block and kills by Frank, Wilkins and Anna Baytosh staking the 'Cats to a 14-9 lead. Stanislaus battled back, tying the contest at 16-all, and with the score even at 18-apiece, reeled off four unanswered points to go up 22-18. Two Boling kills helped the Wildcats whittle the deficit to 23-22, but the Warriors earned the next two points to prevail 25-22 and take the match in three sets.
Chico State returns home this weekend for a pair of important conference matches. Friday the Wildcats host Cal Poly Pomona, with Cal State Monterey Bay visiting Acker Gym on Saturday. Both matches will start at 7 p.m.
