2008 Woodie Awards
Slow start leads to loss, split for women's volleyball team
By: Julian Williamson
Issue date: 11/12/08 Section: Sports
The women's volleyball team's three-match win streak came to an end Friday on the road in La Jolla as it was swept by 12th-ranked UC San Diego, 25-17, 25-21 and 26-24.
The Wildcats upset the Tritons 3-2 earlier this season Oct. 3.
However, the Wildcats' offensive speed and passing game was somewhat nullified by their inability to set and pass, as they managed only 32 kills against UC San Diego, head coach Cody Hein said.
The Wildcats' play centers around a speedy passing and setting game, which is vital to having success with a relatively small team, Hein said.
However, they had problems getting into synch and funneling the ball to key hitters.
"If we don't pass well, then our offense isn't very good," Hein said. "Then they can block us and dig us and then put it away, which is what they did."
The Wildcats also had problems mounting the drive and energy required to topple the Tritons on their senior night.
"They just wanted it more - there's no doubt about that," Hein said. "Our passing was pretty bad, but it was a matter of desire. I thought their desire was a lot more than ours."
The Tritons put up solid blocking against the Wildcats, but Chico State did manage to find a seam by getting the ball to sophomore middle blocker Crystal Trifeletti, Hein said.
Unfortunately, the Wildcats' passing issues didn't give her many chances to take shots, and she finished with nine kills.
Chico State led late in set three, 22-20, but allowed UC San Diego to fire back and tie things up at 24. Unfortunately, back-to-back errors on the part of the 'Cats gave away the final two points, closing out the match.
Junior outside hitter Gillian Heydorff led Chico State offensively with 12 kills and an ace in the match.
The career kills record-holder, senior outside hitter Lindsay Macias, was held in check on the night with only two kills and 13 digs. Macias averages nearly three kills per game this season.
With 30 assists on the night, senior setter Erica Brick added another record to her illustrious career by being the only Wildcat to ever record more than 1,000 assists in four-straight years.
Her efforts have not gone unnoticed by her coach.
"There are two different kinds of setters," Hein said. "There's one who just puts it up and her hitters make her better, or the kind who makes her hitters better. And Erica definitely is a setter that makes all her hitters better, and four seasons like that is quite an accomplishment."
With this loss, the Wildcats' record falls to 18-10 overall and 11-7 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
Chico State goes on to its final season matches of 2008 when it travels to Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday and San Francisco State on Saturday.
It's likely the Wildcats will head into postseason play if they can secure wins in both matches, but their opponents are "licking their chops to knock us out," Hein said.
Julian Williamson can be reached at
jwilliamson@theorion.com
The Wildcats upset the Tritons 3-2 earlier this season Oct. 3.
However, the Wildcats' offensive speed and passing game was somewhat nullified by their inability to set and pass, as they managed only 32 kills against UC San Diego, head coach Cody Hein said.
The Wildcats' play centers around a speedy passing and setting game, which is vital to having success with a relatively small team, Hein said.
However, they had problems getting into synch and funneling the ball to key hitters.
"If we don't pass well, then our offense isn't very good," Hein said. "Then they can block us and dig us and then put it away, which is what they did."
The Wildcats also had problems mounting the drive and energy required to topple the Tritons on their senior night.
"They just wanted it more - there's no doubt about that," Hein said. "Our passing was pretty bad, but it was a matter of desire. I thought their desire was a lot more than ours."
The Tritons put up solid blocking against the Wildcats, but Chico State did manage to find a seam by getting the ball to sophomore middle blocker Crystal Trifeletti, Hein said.
Unfortunately, the Wildcats' passing issues didn't give her many chances to take shots, and she finished with nine kills.
Chico State led late in set three, 22-20, but allowed UC San Diego to fire back and tie things up at 24. Unfortunately, back-to-back errors on the part of the 'Cats gave away the final two points, closing out the match.
Junior outside hitter Gillian Heydorff led Chico State offensively with 12 kills and an ace in the match.
The career kills record-holder, senior outside hitter Lindsay Macias, was held in check on the night with only two kills and 13 digs. Macias averages nearly three kills per game this season.
With 30 assists on the night, senior setter Erica Brick added another record to her illustrious career by being the only Wildcat to ever record more than 1,000 assists in four-straight years.
Her efforts have not gone unnoticed by her coach.
"There are two different kinds of setters," Hein said. "There's one who just puts it up and her hitters make her better, or the kind who makes her hitters better. And Erica definitely is a setter that makes all her hitters better, and four seasons like that is quite an accomplishment."
With this loss, the Wildcats' record falls to 18-10 overall and 11-7 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
Chico State goes on to its final season matches of 2008 when it travels to Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday and San Francisco State on Saturday.
It's likely the Wildcats will head into postseason play if they can secure wins in both matches, but their opponents are "licking their chops to knock us out," Hein said.
Julian Williamson can be reached at
jwilliamson@theorion.com
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