GREELEY, Colo. -- Northern Colorado had three players with double-figure kills and hit .291 in a 3-1 victory (25-18, 20-25, 25-14, 25-21) over Sacramento State on Thursday evening at Bank of Colorado Arena.

Sacramento State, which had been winners of six of its last seven, dropped to 9-7 overall and 2-2 in the Big Sky Conference. The Bears, who played the toughest non-conference schedule in the Big Sky, improved to 6-11 overall and 3-2 in league. Tonight marked a rematch of last year's Big Sky Tournament championship match in which the Hornets defeated the Bears, 3-2, at the Nest.

The Bears hit .291 compared to just .133 for Sacramento State. In addition, Northern Colorado had 17 more kills (58-41) and had large runs in the first, third and fourth sets. The Hornets used 13 players in tonight's match, employing five freshmen in the lineup at one point during the third set.

Sacramento State - the Big Sky's top hitting team - was held to hitting percentages below .170 in each of its three lost sets. The Bears had 63 digs to the Hornets' 46.

Leading the way for the Hornets was Victoria Marthaler's 16 kills - the fifth straight, and 13th time this season she has led the team in kills. Freshman Keonahi'ilani Solaita had 10 kills, the third time in the last four matches she has connected for double figures. Middle blocker Ashlynn Archer added nine kills and led the team with four blocks.

Sacramento State employed a 6-2 offense for a good portion of the match as Kate Doorn had 20 assists and nine digs, while Kaylee Piepho had 12 assists. Reese Ampi led the team with 12 digs. Eight different Sacramento State players had at least one kill.

The Hornets return to action on Saturday when the Hornets travel to Flagstaff for a matchup at Northern Arizona at 1 p.m.