BOX SCORE

CHICO, Calif. — Given that Cal State Monterey Bay versus Chico State volleyball matches always seem to go the distance, the teams could have been forgiven if they had cut to the chase and played just the fifth set Saturday night. As expected, the match did go the full five sets, but skipping the first four would have robbed fans of an instant classic in CSUMB's 19–25, 19–25, 25–20, 30–28, 15–13 win in Acker Gym.

Saturday's match marked the eighth time in the last 10 matches that the Otters and Wildcats played a 5–setter. But Chico had enjoyed the better of those encounters, winning the last four. That streak ended Saturday.

Just like they did when the teams met Sept. 20 in Seaside, the Otters spotted Chico a two sets to none lead to begin the match before roaring back. This time, however, the Otters finished with a flourish, saving two match points in the fourth set before putting away their only match point in the fifth for the win.

Sophomore outside hitter Jessica Malcolm (Lodi HS) recorded her sixth 20–kill match of the season, leading the Otters with 20 kills while adding 14 digs for her 14th double–double. Junior outside hitter Julia Ashen (North Salinas HS) played another gutsy match, collecting 18 kills and 12 digs.

Malcolm and Ashen both came up big with the Otters collective back against the wall in the fourth set. The duo combined for 14 kills in the set—with Malcolm putting down nine—as Chico threatened to send the fans home early.
A Malcolm kill saved the first match point with the Otters trailing 24–23. Ashen then put down her fifth kill of the set with the Otters leading 29–28, sealing the win and forcing the winner–take–all fifth set.

CSUMB trailed 4–1 early in the fifth before scoring six of the next seven points to take a 7–5 lead. The Wildcats eventually came back to tie the match at 13–13 before making a pair of errors that allowed the Otters to escape with the win.

CSUMB improved to 13–8 overall and 7–6 in the CCAA with Saturday's win. The Otters are now just two wins shy of tying the school record for wins in a season (15 in 2010) with nine matches remaining.

Chico fell to 10–10 and 7–6 with the loss.

The Otters return to action and their 4–match roadtrip Thursday at Cal Poly Pomona.