CHICO, Calif. — It was a tough end to a season–opening 9–match roadtrip for the Cal State Monterey Bay volleyball team, which fell to Chico State 25–18, 25–20, 25–16 Saturday night in Acker Gym.

The Otters held a brief 9–8 lead in the second set, but they were playing catch–up the rest of the evening as the Wildcats eased away late in the first two sets before taking control early in the third.

Sophomore Anela Visesio (Seaside HS) led a balanced Otter offense with eight kills. Ashlynne Armstrong (Norco HS) and Whitney Hirst (Huntington Beach/Edison HS) led the backline with 14 and 12 digs respectively.

 

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THE MATCH WAS OVER WHEN… Tristen Thompson served an ace for Chico State to make it 5–1 in the third set. The Otters never got within three points again for the balance of the match.

SWEEP STREAK ENDS… Chico State became the first team to post a sweep in the series since Nov. 13, 2008. It ended a string of 15 matches that went at least four sets between the teams.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… POINTS: Anela Visesio 9.5; KILLS: Anela Visesio 8; BLOCKS: Amber Tygart 4; ACES: Ala Olson 1; DIGS: Ashlynne Armstrong 14.

NET EFFECT… The Otters continued their season–long dominance at the net by out–blocking Chico State 7–3 Saturday night. They've now out–blocked their opponents in 12 of 13 matches dating back to last season.

ROAD SWEET ROAD… The Otters will, no doubt, enjoy next week's return to The Kelp Bed. The road home, however, wasn't too bumpy for the Otters. With five road wins in 2016, they've already matched their 2015 road win total.

THE LAST WORD… "We can't win games when we error ourselves into holes. We couldn't get anything going offensively. I thought Skyler Allen and Ashlynne Armstrong did a great job for us in their roles and Amber Tygart did a great job at the end of the second, but we have to find ways to score." — CSUMB Head Coach Moe Melhart

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters return to the friendly confines of The Kelp Bed to host San Francisco State in the long–awaited 2016 home opener on Friday, Sept. 23. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.