OREM, Utah -- Sacramento State was limited to a .104 hitting percentage and lost late leads in both the second and third frames on the way to a 3-0 loss at Utah Valley (25-15, 25-23, 26-24) on Saturday afternoon.
The Hornets fell to Utah Valley for the second time in three days as the Wolverines won in four sets on Thursday night at the Nest. Sacramento State dropped to 10-11 overall and 5-5 in the Big West, while Utah Valley improved to 7-15 and 5-5. The Hornets and Wolverines are two of three brand new programs in the Big West (California Baptist is the other).
Sacramento State had trouble with Utah Valley's block in both matches this week. That includes 17.0 Wolverine blocks on Thursday, followed by 12.0 this afternoon. Both times, the Hornets were held under a .200 hitting percentage, including .104 this afternoon (second lowest output of the season).
The Hornets let late leads slip away today, including a 19-15 advantage in the second, and 22-19 in the third.Â
Sacramento State was led by
Victoria Marthaler's match-high 13 kills while
Charlee Lepp added 10 kills and a .500 hitting percentage. Lepp, a sophomore, had just two errors in 16 swings, while registering double-figure kills for the fourth time this season.
Freshman
Nikola Gamlin posted seven kills and four blocks,
Skyler Gartin four kills, a .333 hitting percentage and six digs, and setter
Makenna Wiepert added 35 assists, two aces and four digs. Freshman
Addy Scheitlin posted a season-high seven kills.
Defensively,
Reese Ampi led all players with 17 digs, and
Amy Ito added five digs. Ampi's 17 digs were 10 more than any other player on the floor.
Sacramento State is back in action next week on the road at UC Riverside on Friday, and California Baptist on Saturday. Both games start at 6 p.m. The Hornets beat both teams at home earlier this season in the Nest.
