Chico State Claws Toros in 3-1 Win

CHICO -- Freshman sensation Elaine Hicks led all players with 18 kills on the night, but host Chico State won the final two sets en route to a 3-1 win over the Toros on Friday night, dropping CSUDH to 1-16, 1-11 CCAA.

The hosts took a slim 10-7 lead in the first set, only to have the Toros knot the game five times, the last at 16-16, until CSUC went on a 9-4 run in the 25-20 win.

The Toros returned the favor in the second set, with a run of three points coming via the hot serving of Abbey Prusa to give CSUDH a 15-11 cushion. The Wildcats made it close on a Molly Ratto ace to cut their deficit to 16-14, but a 9-7 run closed out set two to make it a best of three.

Set three was close throughout with the two teams tying nine times before a Toro service error at 24-all gave CSUC set point, with a Makenzie Fahnestock kill putting the finishing touches on the 26-24 win.

That third set loss seemed to deflate the Toros as Chico State raced to a 7-1 lead in set four, extending it to 19-9 on another Fahnestock putaway en route to the Wildcats' 25-13 set four win, and 3-1 match victory.

Hicks finished with 18 kills on 43 swings as the Toros actually out-hit Chico State in kills. But a -8 differential in errors (21 to 13) proved costly for CSUDH in the four-set loss.

Setter Olivia White posted a game-high 49 sets, while Celeste Tuitoti-Mariner's game-high 20 digs led three Toros who finished with double-figure saves in the match.

CSUDH will look to escape northern California with a split as it takes on CS Stanislaus tomorrow night, after the Warriors were swept by Cal State L.A. earlier tonight in Turlock.

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