ROHNERT PARK, Calif- Despite 20 kills from freshman Ally Sather and 15 from sophomore Keala Peterson, Sonoma State could not hold on to a 2-0 match lead, falling to rival Chico State in five sets on Saturday night in California Collegiate Athletic Association women's volleyball action at The Wolves' Den. The Seawolves stumbled to 6-3 in conference play at 14-3 overall. The Wildcats rose to 14-4 and 5-3 in the CCAA.

Both teams came out firing on all cylinders in set one, as both teams hit at or above a .400 clip -- the Seawolves and Wildcats combined for 37 kills, four errors in 81 attacks. Even though Chico State had a better percentage (.415), Sonoma State escaped with a 26-24 win to take the early match lead. The Wildcats' Gillian Heydorff, who is among the national leaders in kills per set, led all scorers with 10 kills with no errors. Sather paced the Seawolves with nine kills.

In set number two, the Seawolves took advantage of several Wildcat miscues and held the hot hitting Chico State team to a negative hitting percentage (-.036). Sonoma State, however, stayed red hot and took the easy 25-14 win to go up two sets to none.

It was in the third set that Chico's Mackenzie Snyder began to take matters into her own hands. The NCAA Division II leader in kills per set went off for seven kills, helping the Wildcats to a 25-21 victory to begin the ferocious comeback attempt by Chico State.

Chico State then got a combined 10 kills from Snyder and Heydorff in the fourth set, helping to spearhead a 12-5 run that beat the Seawolves in a close 26-24 victory for the Wildcats.

The Seawolves then jumped out to a 10-6 lead in the deciding fifth set before the Wildcats came roaring back with five straight points to go ahead 11-10. A Peterson kill would knot the score at 11-11 but Chico State would prove to be too much as Snyder, who had 20 kills in the just the final three sets, put the Seawolves away with her game-high 26th kill.

Snyder and Heydorff combined for 46 of the Wildcats' 70 kills on the night. Chico State setter Sable Vallaescusa had 53 assists and Heydorff also led the defense with 21 digs.

Senior Rikki Buckshnis added 10 kills for the Seawolves and senior Lindsay Brown had seven kills and 47 assists. Sophomore Taylor Krenwinkel again led all defenders with 29 digs on the backline. Both teams ended the match, one that featured 32 ties and 15 lead changes, hitting at an even .250 clip.

The Seawolves were unable to capitalize on numerous unforced errors by the Wildcats, including 10 service miscues. Sonoma State had a season-high 14 aces with four coming from junior Marianne Fox.

Sonoma State will return to the court on Friday to take on Cal State East Bay at The Wolves' Den. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Box Score: Chico State 3, #16 Sonoma State 2

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