SACRAMENTO -- Playing without three injured starters the majority of today's match, Sacramento State battled, but fell short against San Jose State, 3-0 (29-27, 25-19, 25-22), on Saturday afternoon at the Nest.

The Hornets played the entire match without the services of injured starting outside hitter Bridgette Smith and rightside hitter Karlee Soderberg. Then, late in the first set, middle blocker Tiyanane Kamba-Griffin went down with injury and did not return. Sacramento State would use six freshmen in today's match, and though those freshmen played well, the Hornets did not have enough to beat San Jose State's potent offense.

The Hornets dropped 2-3 on the young season while San Jose State improved to 4-1. Both teams were coming off victories against Saint Mary's earlier this week.

Both teams hit well (SAC .367, SJSU .365), but the Spartans had double-digit advantages in kills (53-40), assists (51-38) and digs (40-30). The Hornets did have eight team blocks to San Jose State's one, but it was not enough.

In the first set, the Hornets nearly erased a 19-11 deficit, and saved five set points before eventually falling, 29-27. The Hornets had a 21-20 lead in the third, but the Spartans closed on a 5-1 run.

A number of Hornets played well today, including outside hitter Caitlin Volkmann who had a team-best 16 kills go along with a .441 hitting percentage. The junior had just one error in 34 swings. Freshman Greta Davis, starting for the injured Smith, also played well with 10 kills and a .304 hitting percentage.

Freshman Ashlynn Archer, who came into the game after the Kamba-Griffin injury, had four kills, two blocks and a .667 hitting percentage. In her first collegiate swing, she hammered a ball for a kill and first set tie at 27-27.

Middle blocker Kalani Hayes had six kills, four blocks and a .500 hitting percentage. Her season hitting percentage is now a Big Sky Conference-best .478. Libero Caty Cordano had a team-high 11 digs, and setter Ashtin Olin had 33 assists, seven digs, four blocks (two solos) and an ace. Ellie Tisko, who started for Soderberg on the right side, had three kills, four digs and four blocks.

Sacramento State, which does not play at home again until Sept. 24, will play its next eight contests away from home. That stretch begins on Monday when the Hornets travel across the Causeway to play at UC Davis. First serve is 3 p.m.