October 16, 2009

Box Score

CHICO, Calif. – Hopes of CSUMB's second victory over a nationally-ranked team on the same day slipped away as the Cal State Monterey Bay women's volleyball team fell in five-sets (25-10, 23-25, 25-27, 25-21, 15-12) to No. 25 Chico State on Friday night at Acker Gym.

The Otter dropped to 7-13 overall, 2-10 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play while the Wildcats improved to 17-5, 8-4 in conference play.

Sophomore #Rheann Fall# recorded her 11th double-double of the season with 15 kills and 18 digs.  Sophomore #Lauren Shacklock# added 10 kills with junior #Dana Grimm# dishing out 19 assists. 

After the Wildcats took a quick lead in the first set, CSUMB closed it to 8-6 on a block by Shacklock.  Chico State then went on a 12-1 run before capturing the first set at 25-10.

The second set began very different than the first, with the Otters coming on strong with a 7-3 lead capped by a service ace by senior #Elizabeth Hanna#. Chico State used their second timeout after Hanna's second kill of the set at 14-6.  The Wildcats rallied back with an 11-4 run, but a kill by Fall clinched a 25-23 CSUMB victory and evening the match at one set apiece.  The Otters finished with a set-high .303 hitting average.

The Wildcats pulled away to a 10-6 lead in the third set, but back-to-back Chico State hitting errors and a Fall ace closed the gap to 10-9. The middle of the set consisted of five lead changes before the Otters took a 24-22 advantage on two consecutive kills by Fall. Two CSUMB errors tied the game once again (24-24) but a solo block by Fall gave the Otters their second set point.  The Wildcats equalized the game at 25-25 on a kill by Gillian Heydorff.  After a kill by Fall, the Otters nabbed the third set on a Heydorff attacking error, 27-25.

Chico State bounced back to win the tightly-played fourth set ¬ the Wildcats never led by more than four, and had to fight off a late Cal State Monterey Bay comeback attempt to post the 25-21 victory and square the match at two wins apiece.

The Otters took a 2-0 lead in the final set, capped by a Fall kill, but the Wildcats scored four consecutive points before missing a serve.  After a kill and an ace, the Wildcats forced CSUMB to take a timeout at 6-3. The Otters came back quickly, tying the game at 11-11. Heydorff's kill gave the Wildcats back the lead at 12-11, but Shacklock answered with a kill of her own.  Three straight points gave Chico State that set and match.

In CSUMB's first match-up against Chico State featured a 38-36 first set in the Wildcats favor and resulted in a five-set Otter loss at home.

“Once again, this team showed tremendous heart and determination in their pursuit to being successful,” said head coach #Jody Garry#. “Statistically, we were getting beat, but you wouldn't know it if you were in the stands.

“The team remained together after the match which is a true testament to the journey they are on, from good to great.”

Chico State was led by Heydorff with 24 kills and 31 digs.  Ranking third in the nation in kills per set, sophomore Makenzie Snyder added 23 kills.

CSUMB travels to Turlock to take on Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. Earlier this season, the Otters swept the Warriors 25-20, 25-23, 25-10.