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Wildcats come up short, fall to Seawolves in three sets
Makenzie Snyder had 16 kills and 13 digs Friday, but the Wildcats fell in three sets to visiting Sonoma State.
11/6/2009 10:02:36 PM
CHICO, Calif. – Even with all the success that the Chico State volleyball team has enjoyed this season, an invitation to the NCAA Championship Tournament hinged heavily on the Wildcats’ last four matches of the regular season. Friday the No. 25 ’Cats tangled with No. 18 Sonoma State in a battle for sole possession of fourth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), and the visiting Seawolves dealt a huge blow to Chico Sate’s postseason aspirations with a 25-23, 25-22, 25-15 victory at Acker Gym.
The loss – Chico State’s second straight and third in the last five matches – not only dropped the ’Cats to 21-8 on the year, but their 12-7 conference record puts the Wildcats into a fifth place tie with San Francisco State in the CCAA standings. Friday’s win upped Sonoma State’s season record to 21-6 and 13-6 in conference play.
The Seawolves played aggressively from the opening serve, quickly building a sizeable 14-6 in the match’s first set. Chico State rallied, utilizing five Makenzie Snyder kills to score 13 of the next 20 points and pull to within 21-19. Sonoma State pushed the lead back to four, but the Wildcats dug in again – kills by Snyder and Kayla Baumgardner and a Jessica Leek service ace made the score 24-23. The Seawolves quickly ended the drama when Sarah Illingworth delivered the kill that gave Sonoma State the 25-23 opening set win.
Chico State jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage in the second set, only to see Sonoma go on an 11-5 run to take a three point lead. The Wildcats chipped away at the deficit, as kills by Snyder, Leek, Gillian Heydorff and Jacqueline Johnson helped Chico State go back in front 20-19. Now it was the Seawolves’ turn to play catch-up, and they promptly reeled off six of the next eight points to hand the Wildcats a 25-22 defeat.
Sonoma State was in total control in the third and final set, spotting Chico State the opening point and then going on a 16-5 run to take command of the contest. The Wildcats didn’t give up, as Snyder and Johnson powered a 5-1 mini-run to pull Chico State to within six. But that was as close as the ’Cats would get, as the Seawolves rolled to the 25-15 victory to sweep the match and avenge their five-set loss to Chico State October 3 in Rohnert Park.
Snyder had a great night statistically for Chico State, registering 16 kills and posting a .424 attack percentage; she also contributed 13 digs. Leek had eight kills, while Heydorff had 13 digs to put her up and over the 1,000 mark for her Chico State career. Heydorff also had one service ace to tie her for No. 1 all-time in Wildcat history for career aces. Sable Villaescusa piled up 30 assists for the Wildcats, while Jessica Simms chipped in with 12 digs and six assists. Keala Peterson had 16 kills to lead the victorious Seawolves.
BOX SCORE
Chico State plays its final home match of the regular season Saturday when they welcome the Lumberjacks of Humboldt State to Acker Gym. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
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Wildcats of the Week
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Women's Basketball
Before the 2009-10 even got underway, Chico State women’s basketball Head Coach Brian Fogel described junior guard Natasha Smith as “the key to our success.” Truer words have never spoken, as Smith has turned her already impressive game up a notch to lead the Wildcats to the NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional title game. Her efforts have netted the Sacramento native her third Wildcat of the Week honor this season.
Smith earned All-NCAA Championship Tournament West Region Team honors by averaging 14 points, 7.7 assists, five rebounds, and three steals per game during the Wildcats’ run to the Sweet 16 and West Region title game.
Friday against third seeded Western Washington, Smith scored 15 points, snared four rebounds, dished out five assists and made three steals as the Wildcats downed the Vikings 79-68. Saturday versus Humboldt State, the All-CCAA first team selection was even better, posting her second career double-double with 15 points and 10 assists, while hauling in a team-high eight rebounds and five steals in Chico State’s come-from-behind 86-76 victory over the Lumberjacks. Monday, in the regional title game against Seattle Pacific, Smith finished with 12 points, eight assists, three rebounds, and a steal while drawing the defensive assignment against Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year Daesha Henderson and limiting her to just five points on 1-of-10 shooting.
Smith, who led the CCAA in free throw percentage (.824) and assists (134), also led the ’Cats in scoring (11.5 points per game) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.44). She continues to move up the Chico State career records ladder with each contest. With one year of eligibility still remaining, Smith ranks ninth all-time in scoring, sixth in assists, seventh in free throws and 10th in career steals and 3-pointers.
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Baseball
Chico State right fielder Adam Arakawa continued his torrid start to 2010 with four more multi-hit games, finishing 9-for-15, to lead the Wildcats to a series split a four-game series at Cal State San Bernardino over the weekend. The CCAA Player of the Week one week ago, he's been dubbed the Wildcat of the Week this week.
Arakawa doubled twice, scored six times, drove in three runs, and walked three times against San Bernardino. He also recorded the 100th hit of his career and has now registered two or more hits in eight straight games and 12 of the last 13 to raise his average to .493. He is hitting .633 over his past eight games and .571 over his last 13.
In Friday’s 8-5 victory, Arakawa went 2-for-5 and scored a run. He also singled in the 10th as the Wildcats scored three runs to win. He went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored as the Wildcats dropped first game of a doubleheader Saturday. In the second game, Arakawa went 3-for-3 with a walk, double, run and two RBI. His third hit of that game was the 100th of his Chico State career. Arakawa finished the weekend by going 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored, and an RBI in Chico State’s 20-5 win.
Arakawa leads the Wildcats in batting average (.493) hits (37), runs (33) walks (17) total bases (59), slugging percentage (.787) and on-base percentage (.581). His batting average and slugging percentage are both tops in the CCAA.
Arakawa was the West Region Gold Glove recipient last season and an Honorable Mention All-American, and has not committed an error in 44 chances this season.
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2.24.10 | Women's Volleyball
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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2.24.10 | Women's Volleyball
CHICO – The annual Chico State Volleyball Coaches Clinic, hosted by Wildcat women’s volleyball Head Coach Cody Hein, is set to take place Friday, April 30 at Acker Gym on the Chico State campus. Volleyball coaches of all levels are invited to be part of this free, informative two-hour clinic that will offer practical coaching instruction and technique on key phases of the game.
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1.14.10 | Women's Volleyball
CHICO - Chico State Head women's volleyball Coach Cody Hein has announced an open tryout on Feb. 26 from 3:30-6. All prospective athletes must bring proof of a physical within the last six months to participate. The Chico State volleyball program is one of the best in the NCAA Division II West Region, having earned trips to the NCAA Championship Tournament in four of the past five seasons. The Wildcats are coming off a 23-9 season.
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12.4.09 | Women's Volleyball
HILLSDALE, Mich. – Chico State’s Makenzie Snyder provided the kills in 2009, and as a result of her record-setting accomplishments, the hits just keep on comin’. The Wildcats’ talented outside hitter, already the recipient of four postseason accolades, was awarded a fifth Friday when she was named to the NCAA/Daktronics Division II Volleyball All-America Third Team.
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11.30.09 | Women's Volleyball
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Chico State’s Makenzie Snyder accomplished a lot in the just-completed 2009 volleyball season – besides etching her name in the school record books and leading the Wildcats to a 23-9 mark, the sophomore outside hitter has been honored with All-CCAA, American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and NCAA/Daktronics All-West Region First Team selections. Monday, Makenzie received another national accolade, and it’s her biggest yet – the AVCA Division II All-America Committee named Snyder to its 2009 All-American Second Team.
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11.24.09 | Women's Volleyball
SPOKANE, Wash. – Chico State outside hitter Makenzie Snyder put up statistics during the 2009 season that would look impressive as career numbers for just about any other player – besides setting a new Wildcat record for kills per set, Snyder led the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) in three offensive categories and was among the top hitters in the country in kills per set. So it came as no surprise when the Chico State sophomore was named Tuesday to both the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and NCAA/Daktronics All-West Region First Teams. Wildcat teammates Gillian Heydorff and Sable Villaescusa also received some regional recognition – Heydorff was selected to the NCAA/Daktronics All-West Region Second Team, while Villaescusa earned an AVCA Honorable Mention.
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11.19.09 | Women's Volleyball
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – They teamed up for nearly 1,000 kills, 760 digs and 78 service aces, so it was only appropriate that Makenzie Snyder and Gillian Heydorff were acknowledged together for their exceptional efforts. Thursday the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) included Snyder and Heydorff among 13 players selected to the All-CCAA First Team for the 2009 season.
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