SACRAMENTO -- Northern Colorado saved four match points in the fifth set, as the Bears outlasted the Hornets, 3-2 (25-21, 25-21, 23-25, 20-25, 17-15), in a matchup of two of the top teams in the Big Sky Conference.

The Bears' win came with controversy, as Sacramento State looked to have won the match on a Caitlin Volkmann kill at 14-13 of the fifth set. However, officials called a lift on Volkmann's swing - a rare call in the sport of volleyball, and never called on match point. While the Hornets were celebrating the apparent victory, the call was made to the surprise of everyone in the gym.

Still, the Hornets had chances to win before, and after, the controversial call as Sacramento State had a 14-11 lead. Northern Colorado would eventually save four match points at 14-11, 14-12, 14-13, and 15-14, before settling for a huge victory.

Sacramento State (11-7, 4-1) was dealt its first conference loss of the season as the Hornets had been the Big Sky's lone unbeaten team. The Hornets also fell for the first time at home (6-1), and had their 11-match Big Sky home winning streak snapped - a stretch that dated back to last season.

Northern Colorado improved to13-5 overall and 4-1 in conference. More impressively, the Bears remained undefeated on the road (8-0).

Sacramento State nearly overcame a 2-0 deficit after dropping the first two sets by identical 25-21 scores. The match lasted nearly two and a half hours (2:28), and featured 16 ties and six lead changes in the final two sets alone.

The Hornets finished with 55 kills, 52 assists, nine aces, 65 digs and 11 team blocks. The Bears had 59 kills, 54 assists, nine aces, 82 digs and 10 team blocks. Sacramento State hit .170 while Northern Colorado hit .205.

Bridgette Smith led all players with 20 kills - the 15th time in her career with 20+ kills. She also had four aces and seven digs. Volkmann finished with 17 kills, eight digs and three blocks, as the Smith/Volkmann combination finished with 37 of the team's 55 kills. Ellie Tisko had nine kills and five blocks, and middle blocker Ashlynn Archer posted six kills and a match-high eight blocks (two solos).

Kate Doorn registered her 14th career double-double with 25 assists and 16 digs, while Reese Ampi had 15 digs. Karlie Spohn had three blocks, Hailey Plugge 17 assists and six digs, Abbey Kadillak seven digs, and Greta Davis two kills and a block.

Today concluded a three-match homestand for the Hornets. The team will now play seven of its next nine matches on the road spanning Oct. 18-Nov. 16. The only two home games during that stretch will be Oct. 31 vs. Idaho, and Nov. 2 vs. Eastern Washington.