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Wildcats' Regional bid hinges on final regular season matches

The 2009-10 volleyball team celebrates after a good effort.

To reach the NCAA Championship Tournament, the Wildcats need to finish the regular season with wins over Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State L.A. this weekend.

11/12/2009 3:14:45 PM

CHICO, Calif. – The Chico State volleyball team has certainly exceeded expectations in 2009, winning more matches than any Wildcat squad since 1993. But despite the success, the ’Cats’ ultimate goal of a fourth straight NCAA Championship Tournament bid will all come down to their performance in the regular season’s final weekend as the ’Cats hit the road to take on Cal State Dominguez Hills Friday and Cal State L.A. on Saturday.

Winners of 10 of its last 14 matches, Chico State – 22-8 overall and 13-7 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) – are ranked No. 25 in the Bison/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll and 10th in the latest NCAA West Region poll. The pressure is now on the Wildcats to win out this weekend – but even with victories over Dominguez Hills and Cal State L.A., Chico State’s postseason fate will be in the hands of the NCAA selection committee, which will announce regional qualifiers Sunday night.

Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-26 overall, 1-19 CCAA) is wrapping up a tough season that has seen the Toros drop their last 17 contests. In their lone meeting of the season, the Wildcats beat Dominguez Hills in three sets October 10 at Acker Gym.

Cal State L.A. (20-8 on the season, 16-5 in the CCAA) will be well rested when Chico State visits the Eagles Nest on Saturday – the Golden Eagles beat Cal State Stanislaus Wednesday and are idle on Friday. Cal State L.A., sitting in third place in the conference standings, currently holds the No. 20 position in the Bison/AVCA national poll and is ranked sixth in the West Region. Earlier this season, the Golden Eagles came to Chico and beat the Wildcats in four sets October 9.

Several Wildcats continue to rank high on the CCAA’s individual player stat sheet – Makenzie Snyder heads into the final weekend of the regular season No. 1 in the conference (and third in the nation) in kills per set with an average of 4.74; Snyder also leads the CCAA in points per set (5.24). Gillian Heydorff is fifth in points per set (4.35) and is sixth in the CCAA in both kills per set (3.79) and digs per set (3.69). Sable Villaescusa is fourth in the conference in average assists per set (10.48), while Jessica Leek ranks second in the CCAA in service aces per set (0.44).

Friday and Saturday’s matches are both scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Wildcat fans can follow the action via Live Stats available on both the Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State L.A. websites. Friday’s match against the Toros will also be nationally televised live via Internet TV on the Toro Sports Network. Fans can watch free of charge with no registration required – www.GoToros.com/Live will provide coverage online beginning at about 6:45 p.m.

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Wildcats of the Week

Kacie McCarthy

Softball

Kacie McCarthy’s freshman season as a Wildcat has been filled with highlights, but the Shingletown native turned in her most memorable performances of the year last weekend in the NCAA West Sub-Regional at Sonoma State, posting three straight victories and helping Chico State advance to the West Super Regional in Hawaii. The Wildcats are just two wins away from reaching the Division II College World Series, thanks in large part to the pitching prowess of McCarthy, who is the latest recipient of Wildcat of the Week honors.

In Friday’s Sub-Regional opener, McCarthy took over for Chico State starter Jessica McDermott and tossed seven-and-a-third innings of relief, striking out a career-high 11 batters and earning the win as the Wildcats beat 15th ranked Grand Canyon University 5-4 in eight innings. In Saturday’s winner’s bracket game versus No. 14 Sonoma State, McCarthy twirled a one-hit shutout in Chico State’s 7-0 victory over the host Seawolves. Sunday McCarthy completed the postseason trifecta, going the distance for the 18th time this year and getting credit for the “W” as the ’Cats rallied back from three runs down to score four times in the bottom of the sixth inning and pull out a 4-3 victory over Dixie State to sweep through the Sub-Regional and advance to this weekend’s West Super Regional.

McCarthy, now 16-10 on the season, lowered her season ERA to 1.92 with the three weekend wins and is ranked third among California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) pitchers. She also is sixth in the conference in victories and innings pitched (164.1). She leads the Wildcats in wins, complete games, innings pitched and appearances (29).

Chico State takes on the No. 3 ranked Sea Warriors of Hawaii Pacific Friday at 5 p.m. Pacific time in the opener of the West Super Regional in Kaneohe, Hawaii. The winner of the best-of-three set will advance to the Division II College World Series May 27-31 in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Brian Beeman

Men's Track

As a decathlete, Brian Beeman is used to running all over the place. But he took it to a new level last week. After competing in the decathlon, high jump and javelin to help lead the Chico State men’s track & field team to the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship March 6-8, he got on a bus and arrived back in Chico in the wee hours of Sunday morning. Then, he turned around to head back to Southern California for the Claremont Classic Decathlon and turned in an NCAA Provisional Qualifying mark and personal best score of 6,512 on Thursday and Friday.

That iron-man feet has earned him Wildcat of the Week honors.

Beeman finished sixth at the Burns Track and Field Complex while logging the 15th best score in the nation this year. He won the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:31.75, placed third in the 400-meter dash (51.19 seconds) and tied for third in the high jump (6-feet-02.75).

Beeman and a number of his Wildcats teammates now await Wednesday morning’s NCAA Track and Field Championships selection show to found out if he’s earned a berth to the National Championships May 27-29 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

9.2.10 | Women's Volleyball

Wildcats open 2010 volleyball season this weekend at Seawolf Spike Tournament

CHICO – The Chico State volleyball team has set a number of goals as it begins the 2010 season this Friday and Saturday at the Sonoma State-hosted Seawolf Spike Tournament in Rohnert Park. The Wildcats will look to improve on its 23-9 record of a year ago, and in the process make Cody Hein the winningest coach in Chico State volleyball history. But the team's main goal is something that eluded the 'Cats in 2009 – a trip back to the NCAA Championship Tournament.

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8.13.10 | General

See the Wildcats and save money with season tickets

The 2010 Chico State soccer and volleyball seasons are right around the corner and the best way to watch your favorite Wildcat in action is with a season ticket. Season ticket prices start at just $25 for an individual and can save you up to $92 off the regular admission price. Don't miss a bit of the action as the Wildcats battle it out in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Just click here to download a soccer season ticket form and/or here for a volleyball season ticket form and you on your way!

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7.14.10 | Women's Volleyball

2010 volleyball schedule released

The folks in charge of choosing which teams have earned a spot in the NCAA Championships site a team’s “body of work.” They are referring to the importance of a team’s performance from the season’s first day to its last. Those close to the Chico State volleyball program are familiar with the phrase and its meaning.

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6.16.10 | Women's Volleyball

Fahnestock becomes latest addition to Wildcats volleyball team

CHICO – Head Coach Cody Hein has gone to great lengths during the spring to recruit players that would bring both talent and depth to the Chico State volleyball team. With a combination of nine middle and outside hitters on the roster, the Wildcats appeared to have a well-stocked array of offensive weapons already in place. But with the team’s latest addition – outside hitter and prep standout Makenzie Fahnestock – the ’Cats become even more versatile and dangerous offensively as the team prepares for the upcoming 2010 season.

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5.11.10 | Women's Volleyball

Wildcats beef up the defense with latest volleyball recruits

CHICO – With a generous and talented array of hitters already in place, the Chico State volleyball team has taken steps to add some depth to the roster’s serve-receive corps, as three defensive specialists – Sophia Somers, Kiel Tamiyasu and Molly Ratto – have signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Wildcats in the upcoming 2010 season.

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5.4.10 | Women's Volleyball

Wildcats add prep standouts Conant and Shurtz to 2010 squad

CHICO – The Chico State volleyball team has begun the process of bolstering its roster for the 2010 season, and a pair of talented high school hitters will officially be sporting Wildcat colors this fall. Juliet Conant of East Nicolaus High and Campolindo High’s Alex Shurtz have signed their National Letters of Intent to play for the ’Cats when the team returns to the court in August.

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2.24.10 | Women's Volleyball

Calling all volleyball players! Chico State Grass Volleyball Tournament scheduled for May 1-2

CHICO – The annual Chico State Grass Volleyball Tournament, sponsored by the Wildcat women’s volleyball team in association with Volleyzoo, is set to take place Saturday and Sunday, May 1-2. Open to the public, the event offers two days of fun in the sun, spirited competition and prizes.

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