SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento State had 13 aces, and effectively used the service line to take away Idaho State's offensive attack, on the way to a three-set sweep of the Bengals, 25-19, 25-15, 25-23, in the Big Sky Conference Tournament semifinals Thursday evening at the Nest.
The Hornets (20-11) will host Northern Colorado (25-6) on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Big Sky championship match. The winner of tomorrow's game will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. The Hornets will be making their first title match appearance since 2017, and will seek their first trip to the Big Dance since 2007. The Hornets are 9-3 in their previous 12 Big Sky Tournament title match appearances.
Northern Colorado, the top seed, needed five sets to beat Weber State in today's other semifinal. The Bears also need five sets to beat Montana State yesterday in the quarterfinals. Sacramento State, the No. 3 seed, is hosting this year's postseason event by virtue of winning last season's Big Sky regular season title.
Sacramento State opened tourney play yesterday with a four-set win over No. 6 seed Portland State. Today's victory came against an Idaho State team (21-9) that was the No. 2 seed, and had beaten the Hornets in both regular season meetings this year.
The Hornets dominated the Bengals at the service line, finishing with 13 aces in just three sets (4.3 per set). They also repeatedly had serves that resulted in free balls back to Sacramento State's side. Leading the way was setter
Kate Doorn, who had five aces, and ran off multiple-point runs seemingly every time she stepped to the service line. The ace brigade also included
Caitlin Volkmann (3),
Bridgette Smith (2),
Mia Guevara (2) and
Ellie Tisko (1).
Idaho State was held to a .172 hitting percentage, and just 30 kills. No ISU player had more than eight kills. Conversely, the Hornets had 43 kills, hit .282, and used mid-set runs to take control of both the first and second sets. In the third, with the score tied at 23-23, the Hornets got a kill from Tisko and an ISU attack error (off a great Smith serve) to secure the victory. Sacramento State is now 28-14 all-time at the Big Sky Tournament, including nine tourney titles (1997-98, 2000, 2002-07).
The Hornets were led by Smith's 17 kills, and no player from either team had more than nine. The senior outside hitter, one of the greatest players in program history, also hit .317 with two aces, 10 digs, and her team-high 14th double-double.
Volkmann had eight kills, nine digs, two blocks and three aces, ending her streak of eight straight matches with double-figure kills.
Ashlynn Archer posted nine kills, four blocks and a .444 hitting percentage, accounting for just one error in 18 swings.
Skyler Gartin had four kills, two blocks and a .375 hitting percentage, Tisko had five kills, four digs and four blocks, and Doorn had 23 assists to go with her five aces.
Hailey Plugge finished with 10 assists and five digs.
Sacramento State improved to 11-2 at home this season. The Hornets and Northern Colorado split their regular season meetings, with each team winning on the road.
