SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco State women's volleyball team looks to end the skid this weekend with a favorable home schedule. The Gators will host Chico State, Cal State East Bay and Cal State Monterey Bay for three games, starting with Chico State on Tuesday. All three matches are slated for a 7:00 p.m. start time.
San Francisco State (1-16/0-9 CCAA) is averaging 10.11 kills per set, hitting .129. Their opponents are averaging 13.95 kills per set, while hitting .267. At home this year, the Gators attack numbers improve, they average 10.7 kills per set, while hitting .158. The Gators have to players averaging better than 2.70 kills per set, leading the team is junior
Christine Johnson with 151 kills.
Where To Catch The Action
All three matches will feature live stats and video. The video is a pay-per-view service provided by Boxcast.com and can be accessed on the volleyball schedule page. The video will be available 15 minutes prior to first serve. The live stats are a free service and can also be accessed on the volleyball schedule page.
Return to the 6-2
The Gators made their return to the 6-2 offense three matches ago. Senior setter
Malia Muin made her first start of the season on Saturday against Humboldt State and was an assist away from a double-double, she finished the match with nine assists and 11 digs. In 24 sets played, Muin has 55 assists, averaging 2.29 assists per set, with 31 digs and two service aces. The Gators' regular setter,
Linda Aerne has a career-high 431 assists, averaging 7.56 assists per set, which ranks 10
th in the CCAA.
Who Is Hot
Freshman outside hitter
Lexi Chabiniak is making the most of her increase in playing time. Since entering the starting role three matches ago, Chabiniak is averaging 1.40 kills per set. Last week, she recorded seven kills, five coming against Humboldt State.
Digs Machine
Jessica Stratton had a career-night against the Lumberjacks on Saturday. Making her first start at libero she recorded 19 digs, tied for the second most by a Gator in a three-set match this season. That match, SF State had four players with 10 or more digs, finishing with 66 as a team, their second highest total all season.
Having A Career Year
Junior outside hitter
Christine Johnson continues to have a career-year for the Gators. She is well on pace to shatter her single-season high for kills, which she set last year with 174. Through 17 matches she already has 151. She already has a career-high in kills per set (2.70), service aces (24), and digs (111).
Last Time Out
Last week, the Gators split their home and road matches. At the friendly confines of the Main Gym at the Don Nasser Family Plaza, the Gators fell to visiting Stanislaus State in straight-sets (13-25, 13-25, 18-25). On Saturday in Arcata, the Gators lost to host Humboldt State 3-0 (17-25, 21-25, 23-25).
About The Wildcats
Chico State enters Tuesday's match with an overall record of 14-5, in the CCAA they are 8-2 and in first place in the North Division. On Saturday, they saw their six-match winning streak come to an end when Cal State East Bay defeated the Wildcats in five sets in Hayward. As a team, Chico State is averaging 14.1 kills per set hitting .247, both numbers lead the CCAA. Their 14.1 kills per set is 11
th best in the NCAA.
Who To Watch
The Wildcats are 11
th in the nation in kills per set, a big reason or that is their senior setter Torey Thompson. Thompson is 28
th in the nation in assists per set, averaging 10.73. Her 719 assists are almost 100 more than the second best in the CCAA. She also has 245 digs and 16 service aces on the year.
Series Versus The Wildcats
All-time the Gators are 26-42 against Chico State in a series that dates back to the 1977 season when SF State defeated Chico State in straight sets. Last season, the Gators and Wildcats split the season series with the road team winning both matches. The last time out, SF State defeated the Wildcats in straight-sets at Art Acker Gymnasium on Nov. 10, 2015.
About The Pioneers
Cal State East Bay enters this week with a 9-9 record and are 5-5 in the CCAA which has them sitting fourth in the CCAA North Division Standings. The Wildcats have won three-straight, including a pair of five set matches over North and South Division Leaders Chico State and Cal State L.A. As a team, CSUEB is averaging 12.6 kills per set, hitting .182, their opponents are averaging 12.6 kills per set and hitting .183.
Who To Watch
The Pioneers are fifth in the nation in digs per set, averaging 19.4. Three players averaging 3.4 digs per set or better. Leading the team is junior libero Brandi Brucato who has 315 digs, averaging 4.85 digs per set. That total puts her 65
th in the nation and second in the CCAA.
Series Versus The Pioneers
All-time the Gators own the series against their Bay Area rivals, owning a 45-13 advantage in the series that dates back to the 1975 season. In the first match up the Pioneers defeated the Gators 2-0. Since SF State resumed playing volleyball in 2008, the Gators are 10-6. Over the last two seasons, the Gators are 4-2 against CSUEB. The last time out, the Pioneers snapped a four-game skid against the Gators defeating SF State 3-0 at Pioneer Gymnasium in Hayward.
About The Otters
Cal State Monterey Bay enters this week with a 9-9 overall record and are 4-7 in the CCAA which has them sitting sixth in the CCAA North Division. On the road this year CSUMB is 1-4, on Saturday's they are 3-4. Over their last 10 matches they are 4-6 and have lost two-straight. As a team, they are averaging 10.81 kills per set, and hitting .170. Their opponents are averaging 12.03 kills per set and hitting .174.
Who To Watch
Four players have over 100 kills for the Otters this season. Leading the team with 195 kills is Anela Visesio, who averages 2.71 kills per set. When the Gators and Otters squared off earlier this year, she recorded 12 kills and hit .429 in the match.
Series Versus The Otters
All-time the Gators own a 10-7 advantage in the series that dates back to 2008. The first time these two teams faced each other was on Sep. 17 when the Gators defeated the Otters 3-1 in Seaside, Calif. On Sept. 23 this year, the Otters stopped a three-match skid against the Gators defeating SF State 3-0 (17-25, 13-25, 15-
