GREELEY, Colo. --  In a tightly contested match that saw three of the four sets decided by two points, Northern Colorado defeated Sacramento State, 3-1 (23-25, 27-25, 25-23, 25-21), on Saturday evening at Bank of Colorado Arena.

The Hornets were attempting to start the Big Sky Conference season with a 4-0 record for the first time since 2017. However, after winning the first set, the Hornets dropped the next three while falling to 7-9 overall and 3-1 in league play. Northern Colorado improved to 8-7 and 2-2 in the Big Sky.

Sacramento State was inches away from taking a 2-0 lead. After winning the first set, the Hornets had a pair of set points in the second frame at 24-23 and 25-24, but could not convert either opportunity. The Bears closed the second frame on a 3-0 run, and never looked back, winning both the third and fourth frames as well.

The match was close throughout, especially the first three sets which saw the two teams combine for 44 ties and 12 lead changes. It was Northern Colorado that converted on numerous late clutch points in the second and third, and cruised in the fourth to pull out the win.

The Bears finished with 27 more kills than Sacramento State (70-43) as the Hornets were limited to a .129 hitting percentage, the team's fourth lowest mark of the season. The Hornets were also outdug, 88-65.

Outside hitter Bridgette Smith led Sacramento State with 13 kills, seven digs, three aces and two blocks. Two days after recording a program record 43 digs in Thursday's win at Northern Arizona, libero Caty Cordano had 22 digs to go with two aces. She finished the week with 65 digs, and an average of 7.22 digs per set.

Outside hitter Caitlin Volkmann posted nine kills and four blocks, and middle blocker Tiyanane Kamba-Griffin had six kills and team highs in blocks (6) and hitting percentage (.312). Middle Kalani Hayes posted six kills and two blocks, setter Ashtin Olin had 38 assists, and Greta Davis recorded six kills and nine digs.

Tonight's match ended a stretch of 10 games away from home in the last 11 for Sacramento State. The Hornets will return home for a pair of contests in the Nest next week against Montana on Thursday and Montana State on Saturday.