SACRAMENTO -- Outside hitter Bridgette Smith led all players with 18 kills, and the Hornets limited Southern Utah to a .130 hitting percentage on the way to a three-set sweep of the Thunderbirds (25-21, 25-22, 25-22) on Saturday afternoon inside the Nest.

After being held to three kills in the first set, Smith had seven in the second, and eight more in the third. The sophomore also finished with a .300 hitting percentage, six digs and three blocks. She was a big part of a Sacramento State offense that finished with a .282 hitting percentage, the second highest mark of the season.

With the victory, Sacramento State improved to 8-8 overall and 3-3 in Big Sky Conference play. The Hornets are now 5-4 at home this season, and were able to bounce back impressively after falling to Northern Arizona on Thursday. The team was playing the second leg of a stretch that will see Sacramento State play seven of nine matches at home.

With the loss, Southern Utah dropped to 5-13 overall and 1-5 in league play. The Thunderbirds have dropped four straight since their lone conference win at home against Idaho on Sept. 25.

The Hornets are now 12-5 all-time vs. Southern Utah, including wins in seven of the last eight meetings between the two teams.

The Hornets had substantial advantages over the Thunderbirds in kills (50-35), hitting percentage (.282-.130), assists (47-33) and digs (62-52). Sacramento State also had 10 team blocks, and never trailed during the third set.

Smith was the only player in the match with double-figure kills as she had nine more than the next closest player. Rightside hitter Tiyanane Kamba-Griffin had eight kills and a .533 hitting percentage, and middle blocker Kalani Hayes posted five kills, four blocks and a .444 hitting percentage. The threesome of Smith, Kamba-Griffin and Hayes combined to hit .365 while accounting for 31 of the Hornets' 50 kills.

Outside hitter Caitlin Volkmann posted nine kills, and middle blocker Cianna Andrews had four kills and match-high six blocks. Rightside Karlee Soderberg added five kills and three blocks, libero Michelle Taynton led all players with 17 digs, and setters Ashtin Olin (23 ast, 9 digs, 2 aces) and McKenna Smith (19 ast, 5 digs) combined for 42 assists, 14 digs and two aces.

For Southern Utah, Raegen Ashby led the way with nine kills, three blocks and a .538 hitting percentage.

Sacramento State will play a pair of road matches next week, including Thursday at Montana State (6 p.m. PT) and Saturday at Montana (6 p.m. PT). After next week's brief road trip, the Hornets open a season-long five-match homestand on Oct. 19 vs. Portland State.