CHENEY, Wash. -- Sacramento State rightside hitters
Caitlin Volkmann (13 kills, .320) and
Ellie Tisko (12 kills, .381 hit%) combined for 25 kills and a .348 hitting percentage as the Hornets defeated Eastern Washington on the road in four sets. Scores were 25-20, 18-25, 25-21, 25-13.
Eastern Washington was limited to a .090 hitting percentage with 36 kills and 25 errors in 122 attacks. Conversely, the Hornets had 46 kills while also registering eight services aces. That included three aces from
Bridgette Smith and
Tiyanane Kamba-Griffin, and two from
Kate Doorn.
Sacramento State won its fifth straight while improving to 12-7 overall and 5-0 in the Big Sky Conference. The Hornets have won five straight, and are 5-0 in league for the first time since 2017. Of the team's five conference victories, three have come on the road. They also remain the lone unbeaten team in the Big Sky.
In addition, Sacramento State recorded its 300th conference victory since joining the Big Sky in 1996. In its 28th year in the Big Sky, the Hornets are 300-138 (.685 win%) in conference during that time. That includes Big Sky regular season and/or tournament titles in 12 different seasons.
Eastern Washington, which was coming off a 3-1 home win over Portland State on Thursday, dropped to 8-10 overall and 2-4 in conference. Sacramento State has now defeated the Eagles on five straight occasions, and improved to 42-18 in the all-time series.
Volkmann and Tisko accounted for 25 of the Hornets' 46 kills.
Kalani Hayes had seven kills, five blocks and a .333 hitting percentage, and Smith finished with six kills. Three Hornets had double digits in digs, comprised of Smith (11),
Caty Cordano (11) and
Greta Davis (10). Kamba-Griffin had three kills, a .333 hitting percentage and three blocks.
Setters Doorn and
Hailey Plugge both had 17 assists while Doorn had eight digs, and Plugge six digs.
The Hornets will begin a four-match homestand next week that includes Thursday vs. Weber State, and Saturday vs. Idaho State. Both contests begin at 7 p.m.
