SACRAMENTO -- Trailing, 2-0, Sacramento State ripped off three straight sets to defeat New Mexico State, 3-2 (23-25, 25-27, 25-18, 25-21, 15-10), on Friday night in the Nest.
The Hornets improved to 2-0 at Sacramento State Invitational, which includes a three-set sweep of CSUN last night. The team concludes the three-day event with a matchup vs. San Francisco tomorrow at 2 p.m. A win tomorrow would also allow the Hornets to claim the Sacramento State Invite championship.
Entering the third and final day of the four-team tournament, the Hornets are the only undefeated team at 2-0. Both San Francisco and CSUN are 1-1, and New Mexico State is 0-2. Both of today's matches went five sets as CSUN beat San Francisco.
• Needing 16 digs to reach the 1,000 dig milestone, outside hitter
Bridgette Smith finished with a career-high 19. She becomes just the 13th Hornet in the last 40 years to join the 1,000 kills/1,000 digs club, and first since 2017 (Shannon Boyle). She now has 1,360 career kills and 1,003 digs. She moved into ninth place in Sacramento State history in career kills.
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Caitlin Volkmann posted career highs in both kills (22) and digs (16). The senior was incredible in the fifth set, finishing with seven kills in 11 swings (.545 hit%). In fact, Volkmann registered kills on four straight points to improve the Hornets' 10-9 lead in the fifth frame to 14-9.
• The Hornets had 14 more kills (70-56) than the Aggies, four more digs (89-85) and three more team blocks (11.0-8.0). New Mexico State hit .176, and hit above .200 in just one of the five sets.
• Sophomore libero
Reese Ampi posted a season-high 19 digs to go along with five assists and two aces.
• Middle blocker
Ashlynn Archer posted career highs in kills (12), blocks (6) and hitting percentage (.357). She had just two errors in 28 swings.
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Ellie Tisko had 12 kills, nine digs and a career-high tying five blocks.
• Middle blocker
Karlie Spohn finished with six kills, five blocks and a .357 hitting percentage. Each of those are season bests.
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Kate Doorn (35 assists, 8 digs) and
Hailey Plugge (20 assists, 8 digs) combined for 55 assists and 16 digs. The Hornets finsished with 64 assists compared to just 48 for the Aggies.
• After tomorrow afternoon's matchup, Sacramento State will play its next eight matches away from home. The Hornets do not return to the Nest until hosting Montana State in the Big Sky Conference opener Sept. 26.
