SACRAMENTO -- Ashlynn Archer, Victoria Marthaler and Mia Guevara all posted career highs, but it was not enough in a 3-2 loss (21-25, 16-25, 25-12, 25-14, 15-12) to Pepperdine on Sunday afternoon at the Nest.

The match was the finale of the Sacramento State Invitational, a three-day, season-opening tournament that featured the Hornets, UTEP, Pepperdine and UC Davis. UTEP was crowned champions after going 3-0 at the tournament - dropping just one set in the process. Pepperdine was 2-1, followed by UC Davis (1-2) and Sacramento State (0-3).

For the Hornets, senior Ashlynn Archer was named to the all-tournament team after averaging 2.27 kills and 1.00 blocks per set to go with a .391 hitting percentage. The middle blocker had 25 kills in 46 swings, including a career-best 14 in today's match. Marthaler, a transfer from Weber State, had a career-best 15 kills, and defensive specialist Mia Guevara had career highs in both digs (10) and aces (3).

The Hornets, who have seven newcomers on this year's roster (including six freshmen), opened the tournament with losses to UTEP on Friday, and UC Davis on Saturday.

In today's matchup, the Hornets closed the first set on an 8-1 run, and the second set on a 12-1 run to take a 2-0 lead. However, Pepperdine took the third and fourth sets handily, and never trailed in the fifth to claim the win.

Marthaler (15) and Archer (14) combined for 29 of the Hornets' 40 kills while Greta Davis posted seven kills and nine digs. Libero Reese Ampi's match-high 22 digs were two shy of her career best, and setter Kate Doorn registered her 19th career double-double with 30 assists and 10 digs. Archer also had a team-best seven blocks. 

Skyler Gartin added two kills and two blocks, freshman Eleanor Weeks two kills and three blocks, and freshman Amy Ito recorded two digs and an ace.

Sacramento State is back in action next week in Cedar City, Utah, when they pay three times over two days at a tournament hosted by Southern Utah. The Hornets open on Friday with matches vs. UC Riverside (11 a.m.) and Southern Utah (5 p.m.).

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Fuka Sekita - UTEP (MVP)
Torrance Lovesee - UTEP
Sara Pustahija - UTEP
Chloe Pravednikov - Pepperdine
Maggie Beauer - Pepperdine
Jade Light - UC Davis
Ashlynn Archer - Sacramento State