SACRAMENTO -- Weber State hit .299 - the best mark against the Hornets this season - on the way to a three-set sweep of Sacramento State (25-23, 25-21, 25-23) on Thursday evening at the Nest.
The Wildcats had 48 kills with just 10 errors in 127 swings, and won crucial points late in the first and third sets. Sacramento State, which entered the match ranked eighth in the nation in blocks, finished with a season-low two team blocks.
Sacramento State (12-8, 5-1) had its five-match winning streak halted while losing to a Big Sky Conference opponent for the first time this year. The Hornets had been the Big Sky's lone unbeaten team until tonight.
Weber State improved to 12-5 and 5-1 with the victory as the Wildcats, Hornets and Montana State all sit in a three-way tie atop the Big Sky standings. The one Wildcat conference loss came to the Hornets in Ogden in five sets on Sept. 23.
Weber State got crucial points at the ends of both the first and third sets. The Wildcats received an Ashley Gneiting kill at 24-23 of the first set, and a Mia Peterson ace at 24-23 of the third. Sacramento State led the majority of the third frame, but committed five service errors in the set to let Weber State hang around.
Sacramento State is 0-8 when allowing an opponent to hit better than .200, and 12-0 when the opposition hits lower than .200.
The Hornets hit .221 as a team, led by
Bridgette Smith's 13 kills, 11 digs and .400 hitting percentage. The double-double was her sixth of the season, and 30th of her career. Middle blocker
Kalani Hayes had nine kills and a .421 hitting percentage, and libero
Caty Cordano posted a team-high 17 digs.
Caitlin Volkmann had a team-high tying 13 kills,
Ellie Tisko added seven kills, and
Greta Davis had three kills and 10 digs. Setters
Kate Doorn (25 ast, 7 digs) and
Hailey Plugge (17 ast, 9 digs) combined for 42 assists and 16 digs.
Sacramento State will play the second leg of its four-match homestand on Saturday vs. Idaho State at 7 p.m. Kids 12-under will be admitted free, and there will be an autograph session with every Hornet player after the game.
