Tournament Home Page

SACRAMENTO — Sarah Davis had a team-high 17 kills and Paige Swinney a team-best 27 digs, but it was not enough as the Hornets fell to Nevada, 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 25-20, 29-27), in the third and final round of the Sacramento State Volleyball Invitational on Saturday afternoon inside the Nest.

The two-day, four-team season opening tournament concluded today with two more matches after four were played yesterday. Sacramento State, Nevada and Canisius all finished with 2-1 records while CSU Bakersfield was 0-3. Based on a series of tiebreakers that came down to point differential among the three teams that were 2-1, Sacramento State was crowned the tournament champions.

The Hornets were represented on the all-tournament team by senior Sarah Davis (who was named MVP) and junior Cianna Andrews. Davis finished the tournament with averages of 3.92 kills, 2.33 digs and 0.50 aces per set. Andrews averaged 2.58 kills and 1.50 blocks per set to go along with a .317 hitting percentage.

In today's match, Nevada's defense was too tough as the Wolf Pack had 92 digs in just four sets and limited the Hornets to a .106 hitting percentage. Both teams combined for 68 digs in a wild fourth set that included numerous long rallies. In fact, it was one rally midway through the frame that featured 16 digs.

Sacramento State killed off two match points in the fourth, and Nevada saved two set points in the frame. However, with the score tied at 27-27, Brianna Souza had a kill and an ace to put Nevada in the win column. Souza was one of two all-tournament selections for Nevada.

The Hornets had 82 digs and 12 team blocks and limited Nevada to a .190 hitting percentage, but the Wolf Pack had 13 more kills (59-46) and 10 more digs (92-82).

Davis led the Hornets with 17 kills, 11 digs and four aces. The senior outside hitter shattered her career high with 76 total swings. Andrews had eight kills and a team-best six blocks, and Macey Hayden added seven kills, 13 digs and three blocks. Five Hornets had double figures in digs, including Hayden, Swinney, Davis, Ashtin Olin (32 assists, 15 digs, three blocks) and McKenna Smith (10 digs).

Swinney's 27 digs were more than any other player except Nevada libero Ryan Blackwood's 32 digs, including a massive 13 in the fourth set alone.

Kayla Subbert had four kills and three blocks for the Hornets while Tiyanane Kamba-Griffin added four kills, three blocks and a .444 hitting percentage.

Sacramento State's next 12 matches will come away from home, as the team does not play inside the Nest again until Oct. 3. The long road stretch begins on Tuesday when they play at rival UC Davis at 7 p.m.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Sarah Davis (SAC) - MVP
Cianna Andrews (SAC)
Kayla Afoa (NEV)
Brianna Souza (NEV)
Cassidy Ceriani (CAN)
Leah Simmons (CAN)
Brooke Boiseau (CSUB)