CHICO The Chico State volleyball team will be playing in the friendly confines of Acker Gym for the final time in 2010 this weekend, looking to snap a two-match losing streak and finish at least at the .500 mark at home for the fifth straight season. The Wildcats welcome in Cal Poly Pomona Friday night, with California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) champion Cal State San Bernardino in town on Saturday. Both matches are scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m.
Chico State enters this weekend¹s action with an 11-13 season record; the Wildcats reside in 10th place in the CCAA standings with a 6-12 conference mark. The ¹Cats lost a pair of road contests last weekend, coming back from two sets down before falling in five Friday at Cal State East Bay, then dropping a three-set decision to red-hot UC San Diego. Chico State, 5-5 at home on the year, will look to avenge losses to both Pomona and San Bernardino from earlier this season.
Statistically, the Wildcats rank fifth in the CCAA in hitting percentage (.213) and sixth as a team in digs (averaging 14.78 a set). Three ¹Cats are among the individual conference leaders entering the weekend: Sable Villaescusa ranks third among CCAA setters, averaging 9.76 assists per set; Crystal Trifeletti is eighth in hitting percentage (.295); and Alex Shurtz is tenth in the conference in kills, averaging 3.07 a set. Shurtz has registered 10 or more kills in each of her last 10 matches.
Like Chico State, Cal Poly Pomona is out of the postseason picture, sporting a 10-13 overall record and sharing eighth place in the CCAA with an 8-10 conference mark. The Broncos have lost three of their last five outings; Pomona split a pair of matches last weekend, beating Humboldt State in four sets Friday before being swept by Sonoma State on Saturday.
The Broncos rank sixth in the CCAA is assists (averaging 11.59 a set) and sixth in service aces (1.59 per set). Junior RS Kristin McNeese and freshman OH Jessica Doerner have combined for nearly 450 kills on the season, while freshman MB/RS Sinead Palmer ranks fourth in the CCAA in hitting percentage (.332). Freshman setter Katie Colin is fifth in the conference in assists (9.23 a set), and sophomore MB Taylr Kreutziger ranks ninth in the CCAA in blocks (0.78 per set).
Cal Poly Pomona has dominated the all-time series with Chico State, beating the Wildcats 23 times in 33 meetings.
Cal State San Bernardino has turned in another stellar season, entering the weekend with a 21-2 overall record, the No. 7 ranking in the nation and No. 1 spot in the West Region, and with a 17-1 conference record, has already clinched its fifth straight CCAA title and eighth in the last 10 years. The Coyotes are riding an eight-match winning streak and have won 16 straight sets dating back to Oct. 21.
Not surprisingly, San Bernardino is at or near the top of several conference statistical categories. The Coyotes lead the CCAA in kills (13.87 a set), blocks (2.27 per set) and hitting percentage (.311), and are second in assists (12.66 a set).
San Bernardino is led by three All-CCAA first teamers: senior OH Jane Chafeh is second in the CCAA in kills (3.99 a set) and points (4.57 per set); junior MB Samantha Middleborn leads the conference in hitting percentage (.472) and blocks (1.25 a set), and is third in points (3.92 per set); and junior MB Megan Johnson is second in the CCAA in hitting percentage (.364). Sophomore L/DS Camille Smith ranks second in the conference in assists, averaging 10.39 a set.
The Coyotes have won the last 30 meetings with Chico State and have not lost to the Wildcats since Sept. 23, 1995. San Bernardino leads the all-time series, 31-2.
Fans unable to get to Acker Gym this weekend can follow the action of both Chico State matches via Live Stats, available on the Wildcat Athletics website. Friday and Saturday¹s contests will also be broadcast live on the Internet on UStream, with former Chico State great Gillian Heydorff providing color commentary.
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