Chico defeats PV in thrilling EAL opener

Match went the distance, Panthers bested cross-town rival Vikings

CHICO » The Chico High volleyball team defeated Pleasant Valley in five sets Wednesday night in the Eastern Athletic League opener for both teams at Varley Gym.

The win for Chico (11-3, 1-0 EAL) marked the first win against the cross-town rival Vikings (3-9, 0-1 EAL) since Nov. 10, 2017 and the first win in the regular season for the Panthers against PV since October 2012.

In the shortened 2020 season, when PV defeated Chico 3-2 in both matchups, players were limited to just a couple of tickets apiece. Wednesday, PV’s

Varley Gym was packed with students from both schools cheering loudly for their respective teams for all five sets.

In set No. 1 PV led 6-4 before junior setter and outside hitter Allie Mimbs had four straight aces followed by a kill by Rebecca Digmon to take a 11-4 lead. Chico scored five straight points and nine of the next 10 to take a 13-12 lead. Set No. 1 would ultimately go to the Vikings with PV’s Sophia Winter getting the kill to give PV a 27

25 win.

In set No. 2 PV once again got off to a strong start, leading 4-1 after five points. Chico then evened the match, with Carly McPherson leading the way in kills and Digmon ending the set with a block to give Chico the 29-27 win.

Chico carried its momentum into set three where it took an 11-6 lead powered by kills by 6-foot-2 senior middle hitter Madison Struthers. PV called a time out and went on an 8-2 run to take the lead at 14-13. Struthers helped Chico once again in set No. 3 with a pair of aces giving Chico a 17-14 lead. A kill by McPherson resulted in a 25-22 win in set three for Chico, upping its lead to 2-1 and bringing the Panther crowd to its feet.

In set four PV led 2117 late in the fourth set. Chico rallied off five straight points to take the lead at 22-21. Two kills and an ace by PV gave the Vikings a 24-22 lead, and Delaney Thau sent the match into a fifth set with a kill to give PV a 25-22 victory in set four.

In the final set, played to 15, the Panthers got off

to a 3-0 start thanks in part to a kill by Kendal Kyle and an ace by Kaya Gibbs. Kills by PV’s Winters and Mimbs and an ace by Thau tied the set at three. Chico led 10-5 and after three straight points by PV, Panthers coach Chas Konopka called a timeout.

The two teams battled back and forth before two straight aces by McPherson gave Chico the 3-2 victory.

PHOTOS BY DAN REIDEL — ENTERPRISE-RECORD Pleasant Valley’s Emma Daugherty (4) leaps to defend a kill from Chico’s Carly McPherson (7) as the Vikings host the Panthers in a rivalry match Wednesday evening in Chico.

Chico’s Brynn Alves (8) and Macy Mattern (12) attempt to defend a shot by Pleasant Valley’s Sophioa Winter (10) in the second game of a rivalry match Wednesday at Varley Gym in Chico.

PHOTOS BY DAN REIDEL — ENTERPRISE-RECORD The Pleasant Valley student section and volleyball players Kendal Thau (1) and Kenna Chapin (3) wait for the serve in a rivalry game Wednesday at Varley Gym in Chico.

Chico’s Carly McPherson (7) and Brynn Alves (8) attempt to defend a shot from Pleasant Valley’s Kayla Johnson (6) on Wednesday.