POCATELLO, Idaho -- Sacramento State yielded a season-high .385 hitting percentage to Idaho State, and dropped a four-set match to the Bengals (25-18, 25-17, 18-25, 25-16) on Saturday afternoon at Reed Gym.
Idaho State hit better than .300 in all four sets, and better than .400 in each of its victorious sets. The Bengals had 52 kills with just five errors in 122 swings. The .385 hitting percentage was easily the highest allowed this season by the Hornets, surpassing the previous mark of .350 by Fresno State.
Sacramento State has dropped two straight matches for just the third time this season, falling to 12-9 overall and 5-3 in the Big Sky Conference. Today concluded a three-match road trip which saw the Hornets beat Portland State before falling to Weber State on Thursday.
Idaho State improved to 16-5 and 7-2 in league play. The Hornets saw their five-match winning streak against the Bengals snapped. In addition, ISU beat Sacramento State in Pocatello for the first time since 2021.
Sacramento State hit .237 with 54 kills, 50 digs and just three team blocks. Defense was an issue in both matches this week, as the Hornets combined for just four team blocks over the two matches, and both opponents hit better than .300.
Caitlin Volkmann led all players with 19 kills, and coupled with her 20 at Weber State, combined for 39 kills this week. She was joined by
Bridgette Smith (13 kills, 10 digs) who notched her third straight double-double and eighth this season. Rightside hitter
Ellie Tisko had nine kills, six digs, two blocks and a .333 hitting percentage.
Middle blockers
Ashlynn Archer and
Karlie Spohn both had five kills, and liberos
Reese Ampi (7) and
Abbey Kadillak (6) combined for 13 digs. Setter
Kate Doorn had a season-best 36 assists to go along with 11 digs. The double-double was her fifth of the season.
Greta Davis added a pair of kills and a solo block.
Sacramento State returns home next week for matches vs. Idaho on Thursday (7 p.m.), and Saturday vs. Eastern Washington (1 p.m.). Saturday's game is part of a tripleheader on Sacramento State's campus which features the men's soccer team playing at 3 p.m., and football at 6 p.m.
