OGDEN, Utah -- The service line was not kind to Sacramento State in a match that could have gone either way. However, the team lost 28 points at the service line on the way to a 3-2 road loss (25-15, 23-25, 25-16, 20-25, 15-11) to Weber State on Thursday evening at Swenson Gym.
The Hornets tied their season high with 15 service errors, while committing 13 reception errors (most all season) and Weber State took advantage. Sacramento State had nine more kills than the Wildcats (59-50), and 11 more digs (84-73) but could not overcome the service line. Moreover, the Hornets had just five aces, easily their lowest mark against a Big Sky Conference opponent.
Sacramento State also had a season-low one team block while the Wildcats finished with 12 (including three in the fifth set).
The loss dropped Sacramento State to 12-8 overall and 5-2 in the Big Sky. Both of the Hornets' losses in conference play have come in five sets, including a controversial home loss to Northern Colorado on Oct. 12. Weber State improved to 8-11 overall, 5-3 in the Big Sky, and 3-1 at home vs. conference competition.
The Wildcats won each of the odd sets while the Hornets won the evens. The Hornets finished the fourth set on a 5-0 run to win, 25-20, and force a fifth. Weber State never trailed during the fifth frame, but never led by more than three points until closing the set on a 3-0 run to win by four. Weber State hit .350 in the frame while the Hornets hit .143.
Sacramento State's outside hitter tandem of
Bridgette Smith (22) and
Caitlin Volkmann (20) combined for 42 of the team's 59 kills. Smith has now registered double-figure kills in 11 straight matches, and posted her 16th career contest with 20 kills. Volkmann has double-digit kills in eight straight games while connecting on 20+ kills for the second time of her career. The two combined for all six of the Hornets' kills in the fifth set. Smith added a team-best 11 digs for her seventh double-double of the year.
Setters
Kate Doorn (31) and
Hailey Plugge (17) combined for 48 assists, and both have now gone over 1,000 career assists in a Sacramento State uniform. Plugge needed 13 to achieve the milestone heading into tonight's match. Doorn accomplished the feat earlier this season.
Middle blocker
Ashlynn Archer had nine kills and a .368 hitting percentage,
Ellie Tisko seven kills, and
Reese Ampi posted nine digs.
Sacramento State concludes its three-match road trip on Saturday when it travels to Pocatello for matchup with Idaho State at 11 a.m. PT.
