CHICO, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos volleyball team upset and swept Chico State 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-19) on Friday night at Art Acker Gymnasium, giving the Cougars their first California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) road victory in program history.
 
In the match, the Cougars hit a season-best .327 while registering their lowest hitting errors of the season with 10 total. CSUSM's defense limited the Wildcats to a .158 clip.
 
The Cougars improve to 6-18 overall and 3-12 in CCAA play. The Wildcats, ranked fourth in the conference standings entering the match, drop to 16-9, 8-7 CCAA)
 
"This was a complete team win against a very strong Chico State team and I am proud of our determination and competitive spirit," said head coach Andrea Leonard. "We made goals of out-working our opponent and playing with composure and we did both of those tonight.
 
"This was a defining moment for our program and we are anxious to be put to the test again."
 
Senior Jordan Banich tallied 12 kills and 11 digs while freshman Cheyanne Patin added 11 kills.  Freshman Faith Fortune recorded six blocks to raise her season total to 71, ranking her fourth in the CSUSM season record books. She is within striking distance of the top spot of 94 blocks set by Brittany Thompson in 2012. Junior Taylor Harris dished out 39 assists and sophomore Ashley Kaylor collected 18 digs.
 
The first set was very tight until a five-point run capped by Chico State hitting error put CSUSM up 18-12. The Wildcats charged back to even the score at 20-20. The Cougars snagged the set at 25-23 on Chico State's sixth hitting error.
 
The Cougars took the lead in the second set after back-to-back kills by Banich and senior Taylor DeGraaf to make it 7-4 CSUSM. Eight unanswered points gave CSUSM control at 20-10. A late Wildcat charge was halted on junior Brooke Butler's kill for set point at 25-20.
 
After the intermission the Wildcats held a one-point lead twice before the five-point mark, but CSUSM pushed forward with a 14-9 lead capped by two consecutive blocks by the duo of Fortune and Harris. The Cougars never allowed Chico State more than one two-point run as they cruised to a 25-19 third set victory for the sweep.  
 
CSUSM held Chico State's Olivia Mediano, who ranks third in the CCAA in kills, to only 10 for the match. Ashton Kershner had 11 kills for the Wildcats.
 
The Cougars have a quick turn around, traveling to Turlock tomorrow for a 1 p.m. match against Cal State Stanislaus.