SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento State took over sole possession of first place in the Big Sky Conference standings after defeating Montana, 3-1 (18-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-20), on Thursday evening at the Nest.

The Hornets improved to 14-8 overall, and 7-1 in the Big Sky. At the halfway point in the conference season, Sacramento State took over sole possession of first place in the conference after both Weber State and Montana State lost this evening. Heading into today, those three teams had been in a tie for first place.

Sacramento State's 7-1 conference record is the best mark for the program since the 2017 team began the year 8-0.

In addition, Hornet head coach Ruben Volta won his 250th game tonight. The two-time Big Sky Coach of the Year owns the second most head coaching wins in Sacramento State volleyball history.

Montana dropped to 8-12 overall and 4-4 in the Big Sky. The Grizzlies had won two straight, and four of their last six prior to this evening. Sacramento State improved to 39-15 all-time vs. the Griz, including 22-4 at the Nest. The Hornets have won seven straight at home vs. Montana.

After a sluggish first set in which Montana dominated, the Hornets took control with a 9-0 run in the second set that extended a deficit to a 19-11 lead. From there, it was all Sacramento State which finished the match hitting .304. The Hornets had 50 kills with just 15 errors in 115 attacks, and tonight was the fifth time the team has hit better than .300 this season. Conversely, Montana hit .179, and Sacramento State improved to 14-0 when holding an opponent under .200.

The Hornets also had nine aces and 12.0 team blocks. Bridgette Smith and Kate Doorn both had three aces, and Cary Cordano had a pair. Leading the block party was Kalani Hayes who had eight stuffs to go along with eight kills. Caitlin Volkmann had five blocks, and Tiyanane Kamba-Griffin had four (including a pair of solos).

Ellie Tisko had a huge match, finishing with 13 kills and a .591 hitting percentage. Smith, the Big Sky leader in kills and points, had a match-high 15 kills while also posting seven digs and a .333 hitting percentage. Kamba-Griffin registered six kills and a .500 hitting percentage.

Cordano led everyone with 17 digs, Doorn had 20 assists, and Hailey Plugge 18 assists and seven digs. Volkmann had four kills to go with her five blocks, and Karlee Soderberg added a pair of kills.

The Hornets were playing the third leg of a four-match homestand that concludes on Saturday with a 1 p.m. matinee vs. Montana State.