POCATELLO, Idaho -- Sacramento State had 18 more kills than Idaho State, and limited the Bengals to a .139 hitting percentage, on the way to a 3-1 victory (13-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-12) on Saturday evening at Reed Gym.
The win improved the Hornets to 10-10 overall and 6-2 in Big Sky Conference play. In the process, the Hornets moved into sole possession of second place in the league standings behind Portland State (7-1). The Hornets will play the Vikings on the road a week from today in Portland.
Sacramento State, which fell to Weber State on Thursday night, did a nice job of bouncing back this evening despite dropping the first set. The pivotal set was the second, as the Hornets and Bengals were locked in a 24-24 tie. A
Tiyanane Kamba-Griffin hammer and ISU double put the set away and the Hornets found themselves locked in a 1-1 tie. It was all Sacramento State from there as the Hornets outscored the Bengals, 50-31, over the final two frames.
The Hornets swept the season series over Idaho State, which included a three-set home sweep on Sept. 24. Sacramento State is now 40-16 all-time against Idaho State.
In today's matchup, Sacramento State had 54 kills to the Bengals' 36, which included limiting ISU to .054 and .081 hitting percentages, respectively, over the final two frames. For the 11th time this season, the Hornets posted double figures in team blocks, and finished with 10.0.
Hornet outside hitter
Bridgette Smith led all players with 16 kills to go along with 12 digs, three blocks and her fourth double-double of the season.
Ellie Tisko had 11 kills, nine digs and a .421 hitting percentage. She was nearly unstoppable in the final two sets, combining for 10 kills and a .533 hitting percentage over that span.
Setter
Ashtin Olin stuffed the stat sheet with three kills, 40 assists, 10 digs, two aces and a block, and she posted her team-high ninth double-double of the season, and 48th of her career. Middles
Kalani Hayes (8 kills, 5 blocks) and
Tiyanane Kamba-Griffin (7 kills, 2 blocks, .333 hit%) combined for 15 kills and seven blocks. Libero
Caty Cordano continued her impressive play, leading the team with 18 digs and two aces.
Caitlin Volkmann had seven kills and a season-high tying five blocks,
Greta Davis two kills and six digs, and
Abbey Kadillak posted three digs. Sacramento State finished with 67 digs, 16 more than the Bengals as the Hornets dominated in nearly every statistical category.
The Hornets do not play again until next Saturday when the team travels to Portland State. First serve is 7 p.m.
