CHICO, Calif.  – The San Francisco State women's volleyball team kicked off its four-match road swing on a sour note, dropping a three-set decision to Chico State (24-26, 20-25, 17-25) at Acker Gym.  The Gators lost for the second straight contest to fall to 10-8 on the season and 3-6 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, while the Wildcats won for their fifth in a row to raise their record to 13-6 overall and 6-3 in conference play.

“We actually did a lot of good things tonight,” said SF State head coach Michelle Patton.  “We got some great production off the bench, but as a team, we couldn't capitalize when our opportunities came.  Chico State is a very good team and I thought we learned a lot from tonight's match.”

The opening set was a closely contested affair featuring 14 ties and seven lead changes.  Chico State enjoyed its largest cushion of the frame at 11-6 before SF State came back to knot the score, helped by two service aces from freshman Kyle Lamet (Benicia, California, Carondelet HS)  The Gators were kept at bay at this juncture until a kill by Lamet and an attack error by the Wildcats' Lindsay Macias gave the visitors a 19-17 advantage.   SF State was unable to maintain the momentum, however, as Chico State went on a 9-5 run to capture the set.

The Gators held a slim 4-3 margin early in the second stanza before the host team unleashed a 15-8 flurry to build an 18-12 advantage.  After an attack error by the Wildcats' Crystal Trifeletti and a kill by junior Kelly Burke (Redwood City, California, Sequoia) brought SF State back to within striking distance at 19-17, Chico State snuffed out the rally as two consecutive kills by Gillian Heydorff provided the clinching points.

The Gators regrouped to take another early lead in the third set at 4-1, but once again fell victim to a Chico State blitz as the Wildcats used a 16-5 run to put the match out of reach.  Neither was particularly effective on offense as SF State was outhit .157-.055, but Chico State owned a 39-26 advantage in kills.

Individually, junior Beth Perkins (Woodland, California) paced the Gators with nine kills to along with 13 digs and three service aces, while freshman Mary Maiocco (Bakersfield, California, Bakersfield HS) contributed 11 assists.

SF State's road trip continues on Saturday when it tangles with Cal State Stanislaus in Turlock, Calif.  Match time is set for 7 p.m. 

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