BOX SCORE

CHICO, Calif. — The biggest news coming out of Saturday night's Cal State Monterey Bay volleyball match at Chico State wasn't the final score, it was that the match didn't go the full five sets. This time, Chico held on to win in four, 25–13, 25–19, 24–26, 25–14 in Acker Gym.

Five of the last six matches between the two squads went the distance, including both matches in 2013. In fact, the Otter rallied from 2–0 down to force a fifth game in both matches last season, including a 5–set Otter win in Chico.

So when CSUMB came back to take the third set Saturday night, it looked like fans were in for a long one. But after a Julia Ashen (North Salinas HS) kill tied the fourth set a 8–8, the Wildcats responded with four unanswered points to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Chico finished the match on a 17–6 run to ensure there would be no need for a winner–take–all fifth set.

"We played good defense. There were lots of long rallies, but we didn't win most of them," said CSUMB Head Coach Jody Garry (@JodyGarry).

Junior libero Rachel Cookus (Thousand Oaks HS) led the defensive charge, finishing with 27 digs. It was her best–ever total for a 4–set match and the sixth–best 4–set match total in CSUMB history. Cookus leads the Otters with 117 digs on the season and 1,069 for her career as she closes in on Rheann Fall (1,275) for the No. 4 spot on the CSUMB career list.

Ashen led the Otter offense with 12 kills and two service aces. Victoria Clardy (Westminster/Marina HS) led CSUMB at the net with a career–high seven blocks.

CSUMB continues its 4–match road trip next week, heading south this time to take on Cal State L.A. (Sept. 26) and Cal State Dominguez Hills (Sept. 27). The Otters return home to host Cal State East Bay Oct. 1 in The Kelp Bed.