BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Three players finished with at least 12 kills to lead Sacramento State to a 3-1 road win at Montana State (28-26, 23-25, 25-17, 25-16) on Saturday evening at Shroyer Gym.
Caitlin Volkmann (19 kills, 14 digs),
Bridgette Smith (14 kills, 10 digs) and
Ellie Tisko (12 kills, .417 hit%, seven digs) combined for 45 of the Hornets' 60 kills. Sacramento State limited MSU to a .111 hitting percentage, and kicked off the match by saving four set points to win the first frame, 28-26.
In addition, the defense was impressive as the Hornets finished with a season-high 84 digs (21.0 per set) while also adding 10 team blocks. Five players finished with double figures in digs, and four posted double-doubles (Smith, Volkmann,
Kate Doorn's 31 assists and 15 digs, and
Hailey Plugge's 17 assists and 10 digs).
Reese Ampi posted a team-high 16 digs.
After a tough five-set loss at Montana on Thursday, Sacramento State bounced back, improving to 17-10 overall and 10-4 in the Big Sky Conference. With just two matches left in the regular season (both at home), the Hornets are in a two-way tie for second place with Weber State. Both teams trail first-place Northern Colorado (12-2), which needs just one win next week to secure the Big Sky regular season championship.
Next week's matches - the final two of the regular season - will see the Hornets host fourth-place Idaho State (9-5) on Thursday, followed by Weber State (10-4) on Saturday.
Sacramento State, which has already clinched a berth in the eight-team Big Sky Tournament field, has now reached 10 conference victories for the fifth straight season, and ninth time in the last 10 years.
Montana State dropped to 8-18 overall and 6-9 with the loss. The Hornets swept the season series over the Bobcats, which included a four-set win at the Nest in the Big Sky opener on Sept. 26.
Tisko's 12 kills accompanied a .417 hitting percentage as she has now hit better than .300 in seven straight matches while raising her conference hitting percentage to .295.
After missing three matches to injury, middle blocker
Karlie Spohn came back in a big way, posting career highs in kills (8) and hitting percentage (.533) while adding three blocks. Fellow middle
Skyler Gartin had five kills, a .364 hitting percentage and a season-high seven blocks. Starting middle blocker
Ashlynn Archer did not play tonight because of injury.
Abbey Kadillak added seven digs and five assists, and
Greta Davis had a kill and block.
Next week's home slate features Idaho State on Thursday, and Weber State on Saturday. Both will start at 7 p.m. Prior to Saturday's match, four Hornet seniors - Plugge, Smith, Tisko and Volkmann - will be honored for their contributions to the program as part of Senior Night.
