GREELEY, Colo. -- Northern Colorado's Taylor Muff led all players with 11 kills, and the Bears trailed just once in a three-set sweep (25-8, 25-18, 25-17) of Sacramento State on Sunday afternoon at Bank of Colorado Arena.

The loss snapped Sacramento State's three-match winning streak and dropped the Hornets to 3-2. Northern Colorado, which is the defending Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament champions, improved to 4-1. These same two teams will play tomorrow in Greeley to complete the two-game series at 5 p.m. PST.

The Hornets are now 14-16 all-time against Northern Colorado, including a 2-10 mark when playing in Greeley. Since 2007, the Hornets' lone win in Greeley came in 2016.

The Bears were a unanimous choice to win this year's conference title in the preseason coaches poll, and it showed. Northern Colorado won its fourth straight while dominating Sacramento State in every statistical category except blocking.

The Bears had substantial advantages over the Hornets in kills (38-21), hitting percentage (.255-.060), assists (35-19), service aces (11-1) and digs (33-24). Sacramento State did own a 9.0-4.0 advantage in team blocks, but the Hornets' only lead of the match was 2-1 in the second set.

The Hornets were playing without the services of senior outside hitter Macey Hayden and senior libero Paige Swinney, who were both out with injury. Both were starters in the season opener.

Sacramento State did not have a player with more than seven kills, or more than five digs. For the third straight match, and fourth time this season, freshman outside hitter Bridgette Smith led the team in kills with seven. She also had two blocks. Fellow freshman outside hitter Caitlin Volkmann had five kills, and outside hitter Claudia Wilson three kills.

Five Hornets had at least two blocks, comprised of Kalani Hayes (5), Sarah Falk (4), Karlee Soderberg (3), Wilson (2) and Smith (2). Setters Ashtin Olin (11) and McKenna Smith (7) combined for 18 assists.

After the Hornets' matchup at Northern Colorado on Monday, Sacramento State will be back home for matches vs. Idaho on Saturday and Sunday of next week.