CHICO — Chico State took the first match of this CCAA rivalry series as the Wildcats edged the Stanislaus State Warriors in straight sets Saturday night.

The Warriors were up to the challenge against one of the top teams in the conference before falling in three very closely contested tight sets, 21-25, 20-25, 24-26. Stanislaus State fell to 9-5 overal and 3-5 in conference play while the Wildcats improved to 14-4 and 6-2 CCAA.

The teams will play again on Tuesday in Turlock with the match time at 5:15 p.m. at Fitzpatrick Arena.

Taylor Massengale led the Warriors with 12 kills and two blocks and Lindsay Skadeland had her season-best 11 kills (two shy of tying her career high). Blair Ehrlich chipped in eight kills. Ehrlich also led the team with 11 digs.

In the first set, Chico never led by more than five points after running off to a 10-5 start. Stan State stayed close, rallied and actually took a 19-18 lead before the Wildcats scored seven of the final nine points to take the game. In another see-saw battle game two, the Warriors led 20-19, but the Wildcats again rallied with six straight points to close the set.

After Chico built a 16-9 lead in the third, Stanislaus State came back and held off three Wildcat set-points to extend the contest before consecutive kills by Olivia Mediano ended the match. Mediano finished with 14 kills.