DAVIS, Calif. -- UC Davis hit .257, and Sacramento State was limited to a .128 percentage, as the Aggies defeated the Hornets, 3-1 (25-20, 25-27, 25-16, 25-22), on Monday afternoon at the University Credit Union Center.

The loss dropped Sacramento State to 2-4 this season. Once again, the Hornets were short handed (due to injuries) as the team was playing without starting rightside hitter Karlee Soderberg, and outside hitter Bridgette Smith was limited to playing on the back row. Smith, who is usually a six-rotation outside hitter and one of the top players in the Big Sky Conference, is working her way back to health after suffering an injury three matches ago.

UC Davis, which was playing its home opener, improved to 4-2 on the young season. Despite the loss, Sacramento State is still 53-25 all-time against its Causeway rivals.

The Aggies had 16 more kills than the Hornets (59-43), and Sacramento State hit below .130 in each of its three losing sets. The Hornets did finish with 9.0 team blocks, including seven from setter Ashtin Olin.

Of the four sets, three were tightly contested, but it was UC Davis that closed strong in two of the three. In the first frame, with the Hornets trailing, 20-19, the Aggies finished on a 5-1 run. Sacramento State took a 17-14 lead in the fourth set, but the Aggies closed the frame on an 11-5 spurt. In the Hornets' victorious second set, they did save a set point while overcoming a 22-20 deficit.

Caitlin Volkmann led the Hornets a double-double, posting 14 kills and 10 digs. Freshman Greta Davis, starting on the outside in place of Smith, registered her third straight match with double figures in kills as she finished with 11. Middle blocker Kalani Hayes had five kills and two blocks, and Olin finished with four kills, 35 assists and seven digs to go along with her team-high seven stuffs.

Libero Caty Cordano led the way with 12 digs, and Ellie Tisko, starting on the right side in place of Soderberg, tallied six kills and five digs. Freshman Abbey Kadillak had six digs, and freshman Carrie Crom had two aces. Smith, playing in the back row, had six digs. Middle blocker Tiyanane Kamba-Griffin finished with a kill and six blocks.

The Hornets return to action later this week in San Diego when they take part in the Aztec Invitational. Sacramento State will play Arizona and Maryland on Friday, and tourney host San Diego State on Saturday. Match times are 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. on Friday, and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.