FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Sacramento State had nine aces and limited Northern Arizona to a .109 hitting percentage on the way to a three-set sweep of the Lumberjacks on Saturday afternoon at Rolle Activity Center. Scores were 25-16, 25-16, 25-22.
The Hornets (16-9, 9-3 Big Sky Conference) moved into a three-way tie for second place in the conference standings with Idaho State and Weber State. Only four matches remain in the regular season before the Hornets host the Big Sky Tournament during Thanksgiving Week. The three second-place teams sit a half game behind Northern Colorado (9-2) which hosts Portland State this evening.
Sacramento State has now won a season-high tying four straight. Coupled with Thursday's sweep of Northern Colorado, the Hornets are 2-0 on their current four-match road trip. During the winning streak, which included home wins vs. Idaho and Eastern Washington last week, the Hornets have dropped just one set.
Sacramento State sweeps the season series over Northern Arizona (3-1 win in the Nest on Oct. 10), and has now won six straight against the Lumberjacks.
After winning the first two sets by identical 25-16 scores, the Hornets were locked in a 22-22 tie in the third. Sacramento State would win the final three points, punctuated by a
Caitlin Volkmann kill on match point. The Hornets' 38 kills were 12 more than NAU, and the Lumberjacks had just 26 kills with 16 errors in 92 swings.
Sacramento State had nine aces by two players, as
Bridgette Smith finished with six and
Reese Ampi three. For Smith, who is seventh in the nation in aces, she fell just one shy of her career high. Meanwhile, Ampi's three aces matched her career best.
Seven different Hornets had kills, led by Volkmann's 12. Smith had eight kills, six aces and nine digs, and
Ellie Tisko eight kills and .312 hitting percentage. Ampi's three aces accompanied a team-best 11 digs.
Greta Davis had four kills and a .429 hit%,
Skyler Gartin three kills, and
Ashlynn Archer two kills and three blocks. Setter
Kate Doorn had 20 assists and eight digs, and fellow Hornet setter
Hailey Plugge eight assists and five digs.
The Hornets conclude the road trip next week when they take on Montana on Thursday, and Montana State on Saturday. Both will start at 6 p.m. PT.
