Big Sky Conference standings

SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento State hit a season-high .400, and dominated throughout the match, in a convincing three-set sweep of first-place Weber State (25-16, 25-21, 25-16) on Thursday evening at the Nest.

Sacramento State continues an incredible homestand that began last week with sweeps over three very good teams. That momentum carried into tonight's matchup against a Weber State squad (15-6, 10-1) that had won 10 straight and was undefeated in Big Sky Conference play. In fact, the Wildcats had won each of their last seven matches via sweep, and hadn't dropped a set during the month of October.

The Hornets are 4-0 on the current five-match homestand, and improved to 12-10 overall, 6-5 in league, and 9-4 at home. The four-match winning streak is a season best, and the team will look to complete a perfect homestand on Saturday evening vs. Idaho State at 7 p.m.

During the winning streak, the Hornets have defeated four opponents that were a combined 58-22 overall, and 24-2 in Big Sky play entering their matchups with Sacramento State. Weber State had been 10-0 in league, and both Northern Colorado and Portland State were 7-1 prior to their losses to the Hornets. In fact, Sacramento State has swept the Big Sky's first, second and third place teams over the last 10 days.

The Wildcats saw their month-long winning streak come to an end, and dropped to 15-6 and 10-1 in league. Weber State has been swept just three times this season, and the other two came against Power Five conference schools (Michigan State, Utah). The Hornets also avenged their 3-1 loss earlier this season to Weber State in Ogden, Utah, and are now 22-4 all-time when playing the Wildcats at the Nest.

Sacramento State had massive advantages over Weber State in hitting percentage (.400-.186), kills (54-29), assists (47-26) and digs (53-34). The Hornets hit better than .330 in all three seats, and had little trouble against a Wildcat squad that leads the Big Sky in hitting percentage, opponent hitting percentage and aces. The Hornets were never threatened, wrapping up the match in a swift one hour and 16 minutes.

Amazingly, the top four Hornets in kills each hit better than .440 in the match. That included outside hitter Bridgette Smith who posted a whopping 19 kills in just three sets while registering nine digs and a .444 hitting percentage. Middle blockers Cianna Andrews (8 kills, .778 hit%) and Kalani Hayes (8 kills, .636 hit%) both posted career bests in hitting percentage, and rightside hitter Caitlin Volkmann tallied seven kills and a .538 hitting percentage. It was Volkmann that just hit .737 in last Saturday's win over Boise State.

Libero Caty Cordano easily led all players with 21 digs, and an average of 7.0 digs per set. Setters Ashtin Olin (21 ast, 6 digs) and McKenna Smith (20 ast, 6 digs) beautifully ran the Hornets' 6-2 offense while posting nearly identical numbers. Outside hitter Macey Hayden continued her strong play during the homestand with 10 kills and eight digs. Middle blocker Tiyanane Kamba-Griffin added two kills and two blocks.

Weber State boasts the top two players in the Big Sky in terms of kills per set in Rylin Adams (3.84) and Dani Nay (3.52). Adams was held to 10 kills and hit .233, while Nay was held to four kills and a .000 hitting percentage.

Sacramento State has just five matches remaining on the regular season schedule prior to the Big Sky Tournament in Ogden, Utah on Nov. 18-20. Three of those will come at home, including Saturday night's contest vs. Idaho State at 7 p.m. The top eight teams in the 11-member league qualify for the conference's postseason event.