PORTLAND, Ore. -- Sacramento State hit for a healthy percentage (.366), but had a program-record 20 service errors in a 3-1 road loss at Portland State (25-16, 24-26, 25-17, 32-20) on Friday evening at Viking Pavilion.

Statistically, the Hornets should have won this match. Sacramento State hit .366 (third highest output of the season), and had 10 more kills than the Vikings (53 kills, .314 hit%). In fact, the Hornets hit .472 in the fourth set, and lost.

The biggest factor was service errors, a common occurrence in the biggest moments of multiple sets. In fact, the Hornets had service errors on four different set points in the fourth set at 25-24, 26-25, 28-27, and 29-28. In all, Sacramento State had seven service errors in the fourth set. The Hornets also had a big service error at 24-24 of the second set.

With a victory, the Hornets would have won at least a share of the Big Sky Conference regular season championship. But the loss snapped a seven-match winning streak, and dropped Sacramento State to 19-9 overall and 12-2 in the Big Sky.

With just two matches left in the regular season, the Hornets remain in first place in the conference standings, 1.5 games ahead of second-place Weber State. The Wildcats (10-3) host Montana State (9-4) tomorrow night. Should Weber State lose that match, the Hornets would clinch a share of the Big Sky regular season title. Sacramento State closes the regular season with road matches at Montana State (Nov. 16) and Montana (Nov. 18). The Hornets defeated both teams earlier this season at home.

The victory moved Portland State to 16-9 overall, and 9-5 in league play. Sacramento State split the season series with the Vikings, which includes a four-set win in the Nest on Sept. 29.

Four Hornet starters hit at least .400, including Ellie Tisko who set a new career high with 21 kills. She also hit a team-best .531 with just four errors in 32 swings. Fellow outside hitter Bridgette Smith posted 20 kills to go along with a .415 hitting percentage and 10 digs. The double-double for Smith was her 10th of the season, and 34th of her career.

Kalani Hayes posted 10 kills, four blocks and a .471 hitting percentage, and fellow middle Tiyanane Kamba-Griffin registered eight kills, four blocks and a .400 hitting percentage. Kamba-Griffin has now hit .400 or better in eight straight matches.

Libero Caty Cordano had 14 digs, and is now just two shy of 1,500 career digs. Setter Kate Doorn had 29 assists and a career-best four aces, and Hailey Plugge added 25 assists. Caitlin Volkmann recorded three kills and three blocks.

Sacramento State will play at Montana State on Thursday, and at Montana on Saturday. Both matches will begin at 6 p.m. PT.