FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. --
Bridgette Smith had 16 kills and a .464 hitting percentage, and
Tiyanane Kamba-Griffin had seven kills in seven swings to lead Sacramento State to road a sweep of Northern Arizona (25-23, 25-22, 25-22) on Saturday evening.
Sacramento State hit an even .300, the third time in the last four matches the team has hit at least .300. That included an incredible match from middle blocker
Tiyanane Kamba-Griffin who had seven kills in seven swings. She becomes just the third player in program history to record at least seven kills and hit for a perfect percentage, and first 2015.
In addition, Kamba-Griffin has now gone six straight matches and 57 swings without an error, hitting .632 (36-0-57) over that span. Smith led all players with 16 kills to go along with 11 digs and a .464 hitting percentage.
Sacramento State (17-8, 10-1) won its fifth straight, and continues to sit atop the Big Sky Conference standings. With just five regular season matches remaining, the Hornets sit two games ahead of second place Weber State (8-3) and two and a half games ahead of Montana State (7-3).
The Hornets' 10-1 conference record matches the best 11-game Big Sky mark in program history. The 2017, 2006, 2005, 2001 and 1998 teams also accomplished the feat. In addition, the team improved to 5-0 on the road against Big Sky competition, and has lost just one match since Sept. 16. Of the team's 10 conference wins, only one has gone to five sets.
Sacramento State swept the season series against Northern Arizona (5-16, 2-8), which includes a three-set sweep of the Lumberjacks in the Nest on Sept. 21. That win started the Hornets current streak of 10 wins in 11 matches.
All three sets were close, but Sacramento State won the big points with the help of Smith. The senior outside hitter ended each set with a kill - 24-23 in the first, 24-22 in the second, and 24-22 in the third. She was part of a Hornet offensive attack that saw five players finish with at least seven kills despite the match lasting just three sets. That included
Caitlin Volkmann (9),
Ellie Tisko (8) and
Kalani Hayes (7). Hayes had four blocks (two solos) to go along with her seven kills.
Sacramento State received 24 assists and six digs from
Kate Doorn, and 18 assist and three digs from
Hailey Plugge.
Caty Cordano had a match-high tying 13 digs.
The Hornets return to action for their final two home games of the season. That includes a Thursday matchup vs. Eastern Washington, and Saturday vs. Idaho. Both will start at 7 p.m. Saturday is Senior Night.