SACRAMENTO — Sacramento State had 18.0 team blocks and used three sizable runs at the end of its victorious sets to beat Nevada, 3-1 (20-25, 27-25, 25-21, 25-15), on Friday afternoon in the Nest.
 
The match marked the season and home openers for the Hornets, who are hosting the two-day, four-team Sacramento State Invitational. Portland swept Middle Tennessee in the first match of the day.
 
The Hornets, who have won nine straight home matches dating back to last year, will play later tonight vs. Middle Tennessee at 7:30 p.m.
 
In today's win, Sacramento State saved three set points and closed the second frame on a 5-1 run, followed by finishing the third set on a 7-2 run, and then 9-1 in the fourth.
 
Sacramento State limited Nevada to a .088 hitting percentage behind the strength of 18.0 team blocks. Four different Hornets had at least five blocks, including middle blocker Kalani Hayes' career-high tying 10 stuffs. Middle Tiyanane Kamba-Griffin had seven blocks, and both Bridgette Smith and Karlee Soderberg had five stuffs.
 
The Hornets also had 10 aces (Smith had a career-high six) and 70 digs, including 25 digs from Caty Cordano.
 
Smith posted a double-double with 15 kills, 12 digs, six aces and five blocks while Caitlin Volkmann registered 12 kills. Hayes had six kills to go with her 10 blocks, and Soderberg had nine kills. Hayes (.357) and Soderberg (.304) both hit for healthy percentages.
 
Setter Ashtin Olin had 42 assists, 16 digs and three blocks.
 
Both teams had similar statistics in every area except aces (10-6) and blocks (18.0-6.0) where the Hornets enjoyed big advantages. After having zero blocks in the first set, all 18 of Sacramento State's team blocks came during the final three sets.