SACRAMENTO --
Caitlin Volkmann (18) and
Bridgette Smith (17) combined for 35 kills, and
Ashlynn Archer hit .667 (8-0-12) to lead Sacramento State to a 3-1 victory (25-15, 25-18, 23-25, 25-21) over Northern Arizona on Thursday evening at the Nest.
The winning ways continued for a Sacramento State squad (11-6, 4-0) that remains the lone unbeaten team in Big Sky Conference play. The Hornets have won a season-high four straight, and seven of their last nine. Sacramento State is now 6-0 at home, and has won 11 straight conference matches in the Nest dating back to last year.
During the Hornets' run of four straight conference victories, the team has dropped just three sets over that span.
The dominance of Northern Arizona continued as the Hornets improved to 43-24 all-time against the Lumberjacks, including five straight wins in the series. In addition, Sacramento State is now 28-2 against NAU at home.
The Hornet offense had 14 more kills than NAU (56-42) while hitting .270. The team has now hit better than .220 in seven straight matches, and is hitting .288 in conference play. Sacramento State also tied its season best with 14 aces, including a career-high tying five from Volkmann, three from Smith and
Kate Doorn, and two from
Ellie Tisko. The Hornets had just six service errors with those 14 aces.
Volkmann's 18 kills came with a .310 hitting percentage, nine digs and two blocks. She has now connected on double-figure kills in five straight matches, and is hitting .354 in league play. Smith tallied her 41st career double-double with 17 kills and a team-best 14 digs. She has registered 10+ kills in eight consecutive contests.
Archer upped her hitting percentage to .317 in league after finishing with eight kills and zero errors in 12 attacks. Tisko had six kills and five digs, and
Greta Davis finished with four kills.
Kate Doorn (28) and
Hailey Plugge (14) combined for 42 assists, and
Reese Ampi had 11 digs - her eighth match of the year with double-digit digs.
Karlie Spohn led the team with four blocks.
Sacramento State will conclude its three-match homestand on Saturday afternoon vs. Northern Colorado (12-5, 3-1) at 1 p.m. Something has to give as the Hornets enter the match 6-0 at home, while the Bears are 7-0 on the road.
