Box Score HAYWARD – The Chico State volleyball team stepped into Pioneer Gymnasium Saturday with a chance to do something it hadn't all season – win back-to-back conference road matches. The Wildcats didn't figure on a suddenly revitalized Cal State East Bay squad, though – fresh off of snapping an eight-match losing streak Friday, the Pioneers swept their weekend homestand with a four-set, 25-13, 25-15, 20-25, 25-23 victory over the visiting 'Cats.
 
Saturday's setback dropped the Wildcats to 9-10 on the season and 7-8 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State East Bay improved to 7-13 overall and 4-11 in CCAA play.

 

Lindsay Quigley led the Chico State offense with 14 kills on the night. Kristyn Casalino matched her career high with 11 kills, while Ellie Larronde also notched 11 winners. Torey Thompson dished out 45 assists for the 'Cats, with Emily Duran racking up a team-best 19 digs.
 
The Wildcats broke out to a 4-3 lead in the opening set, but from there it was all Cal State East Bay, as the Pioneers proceeded to go on an 11-3 run to go out in front 14-7. Kills by Casalino, Larronde, Quigley and Olivia Mediano kept Chico State within hollering distance, but with the score 20-12, East Bay ripped off five of the last six points to win the set going away 25-13.
 
The two teams split the first 14 points of the second set before East Bay went on a modest 7-4 run to grab a 14-11 lead. A Casalino kill and two Pioneers miscues pulled the 'Cats to within 15-14, but seven unanswered East Bay points suddenly stretched the deficit to eight. The Wildcats got late kills from Casalino and Mediano, but it wasn't nearly enough as the Pioneers prevailed by a final of 25-16.
 
The third set was a back-and-forth affair early on, but with East Bay leading 7-6, Chico State used kills by Larronde, Quigley, Casalino and Anna Baytosh to key a 9-4 run to go up 15-11. The Pioneers chopped the deficit to one at 19-18, only to see the Wildcats take the set with a 6-1 run – capped off by a Larronde/Hannah Wilkins combo block – locking down the 25-20 victory.
 
Chico State rode kills by Thompson, Casalino and Larronde to snap a 4-all tie and give the Wildcats an early 7-4 lead in the fourth set. The 'Cats were still up 11-10 when East Bay went on a 7-4 run of its own to surge in front 17-15. Back-to-back kills by Quigley and Baytosh knotted up the score at 17 apiece, and the contest was still even at 22-all when East Bay used two straight Samantha Bruno kills to take a 24-22 lead. The Wildcats survived one match point via a Quigley kill, but Amber Hall delivered the dagger with a kill that gave the Pioneers the 25-23 victory.    
 
The Wildcats return to Acker Gym next weekend to host Humboldt State Friday and Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday. Both matches are slated for a 7 p.m. start.