Box Score: Sonoma State 3, Chico State 2

ROHNERT PARK, Calif- Facing match point in the fifth set, down 14-12, Sonoma State rallied for three straight points to take the one point lead in the deciding frame. A Chico State kill would even the score at 15, but a kill by Keala Peterson, followed with a block by Lindsay Lytle and Brooke Moore gave the Seawolves the 21-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-12, 17-15 victory on Friday night at The Wolves' Den.

Ranked fourth in the first official NCAA Division II West Region poll released this week, the Seawolves survived an upset, improving to 11-7 overall and 8-6 in conference play. The Wildcats fell below .500 to 10-11 (5-10 CCAA).

Sonoma State played from behind all evening, as Chico State won the first and third sets to take a 2-1 match lead into the intermission. However, momentum shifted faster than the blink of an eye. The Seawolves raced out to an 11-3 lead in the fourth set and never looked back, cruising to the 25-12 win and forcing the fifth and deciding set.

In the fifth set, neither team led by more than one point until the Wildcats took an early 5-3 lead. The Seawolves forced a 6-6 tie on a service ace by Krenwinkel, but Chico State strung together three points to gain control at 9-6. From then on, Sonoma State tried playing catch up, by both squads traded points and the Wildcats eventually led 13-9.

The Seawolves never gave up. Scoring three straight points on kills by Kendahl Batiste, Lytle and Ally Sather put SSU within a point at 13-12. But, a kill by Makenzie Fahnestock gave the Wildcats match point at 14-12.

Sather quickly put the Seawolves within one point at 14-13 with a kill and two straight attacking errors on Fahnestock had SSU out to a 15-14 lead, serving with match point. A kill by Chico's Jessica Leek tied the set, but that's when SSU prevailed, scoring two points to escape with the come-from-behind victory.

Batiste had a career-high night, hammering 14 kills with just two errors in 29 swings, .414 clip. Sather led all players with 19 kills and Peterson chipped in with 13. Lytle notched a double-double with 19 assists and 10 digs while Taylor Krenwinkel had a team-high 19 digs. Amanda Vanover came off the bench to record 13 digs.

It was a huge night at the net for SSU, totaling 13 blocks, including six assisted rejections from Moore, who stuffed Fahnestock on the last play of the match. Sather had three solo blocks and Lytle and Batiste added three block assists. Hayley Ross had a big night from the serving line, notching four service aces.

Fahnestock led Chico State with 18 kills and Alex Shurtz had 15.

Sonoma State will take on Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday night, the last of the four-match homestand. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at The Wolves' Den.