Box Score

CHICO, Calif. – Megan Johnson launched 11 kills and Iris Tolenada posted her fifth double-double of the season with match-highs of 26 assists and 18 digs, but it wasn't enough as the visiting San Francisco State women's volleyball team dropped a three-set decision to No. 25 Chico State (25-17, 25-18, 25-20) in a key California Collegiate Athletic Association clash on Saturday at Acker Gymnasium.
 
The Gators hit just .070 on the evening, committing 12 more attack errors than the host school (23-11) to slip to 8-3 overall and 3-1 in league play. 
 
The Wildcats, meanwhile, received a match-best 16 kills from Alex Shurtz and became SF State's first opponent of the 2012 season to hit over .200 as a team, finishing with a .269 attack percentage to help raise their record to 10-1 overall and 4-0 in the CCAA. In addition, Chico State maintained a 40-31 advantage in kills, a 55-47 margin in digs, as well as a sizeable 9-1 edge in blocks.
 
The two sides battled through four ties early in the opening set before the Wildcats vaulted in front for good at 12-10 following an errant Gator attack and a solo block by Sable Villaescusa.  Chico subsequently pulled away with a 13-8 finishing run as a Shurtz put-away provided the clinching point.
 
SF State was also forced to play catch-up in the second stanza after a Katie Morley kill and a Molly Ratto service ace gave the Wildcats a comfortable 11-2 advantage they would not relinquish.   The Gators closed to within six on two occasions, including a 22-16 spread following an Alyssa Rusin kill.  However, the deficit proved too much to overcome as the host school secured the set with another Morley non-returnable and a Lindsay Quigley solo block.
 
The third frame was a much closer affair featuring 11 ties as things looked good for the Purple and Gold in the early going. SF State took its biggest lead of the match at 10-7 after a Wildcat attack error and back-to-back kills by Jazmine Williams and Kelly Ostello, but could not sustain the momentum.  Chico quickly responded with a 10-4 spurt as the Gators shot themselves in the foot with four wayward attacks and two errant serves.  Trailing 17-14, SF State narrowed the gap on a Katie Judd non-returnable and a Johnson ace.  However, Shurtz followed with a solo block and two kills to give the Wildcats a 21-16 bulge, and the Gators never threatened again.
 
In addition to Johnson's kill total, SF State received seven put-aways apiece by Ostello and Meagan Wright, while Jessica Nicerio registered 11 digs.
 
On the flip side, Villaescusca came tantalizingly close to a triple-double, posting seven kills, 24 assists and 11 digs, while Jessica Simms finished with 15 scoops of her own in the victory.
 
The Gators return to the court next weekend, Sept. 28-29, when they visit CCAA foes Cal State L.A. and Cal State Dominguez Hills on successive nights in southern California.  Both matches are slated to get underway at 7 p.m.