SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento State saw its seven-match winning streak snapped after falling in five sets (25-19, 28-30, 21-25, 25-20, 15-9) at home to Northern Colorado on Saturday afternoon.

In a back and forth match that lasted nearly two and a half hours, the Bears jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the fifth set and never looked back. Sacramento State eventually sliced the lead to 11-9 of the fifth, but got no closer.

Sacramento State (16-9, 9-4) was playing its second consecutive five setter after beating Northern Arizona, 3-2, on Thursday night. With three matches to play in the regular season, the Hornets are now in a tie for second place with Northern Colorado (12-14, 9-4). Northern Arizona (9-3) sits in first place, but plays at Portland State this evening. Should PSU win, there would be a three-way tie for the Big Sky Conference's top spot.

The seven match winning streak matched the program's longest in eight years, and catapulted the team up the standings. Sacramento State also saw its nine-match home winning streak come to a halt. Northern Colorado is the only team in the Big Sky to beat the Hornets twice this season, including a 3-1 victory in Greeley.

The Hornets hit just .190, their lowest mark in nine matches. Sacramento State finished with 62 kills, but had 28 erors in 179 attacks. The Bears had 64 kills and hit .262. 

Victoria Marthaler finished with 32 kills (one shy of her career best), and the sophomore outside hitter finished with 30-plus kills for the third time this season. Libero Reese Ampi tied her career high with 31 digs, and the junior had 15 more digs than any other player in the match. Setter Kate Doorn had 50 assists, 13 digs, three blocks, and her ninth double-double of the season.

Ashlynn Archer posted 13 kills, four blocks, two aces and a .391 hitting percentage, and Skyler Gartin registered five kills, five blocks and a .312 hitting percentage. Mia Guevara had three aces and seven digs, Keonahi'ilani Solaita seven kills and 11 digs, and Greta Davis had four kills and two blocks. 

Sacramento State returns to action for one match next week - at home vs. Portland State on Friday at 7 p.m. That match also marks Senior Night, and the Hornets will honor Archer, Davis, Doorn, Guevara, Abbey Kadillak and Karlie Spohn in a pre-match ceremony for their contributions to the program.