MALIBU, Calif. -- Despite huge matches from its middle blockers, Sacramento State dropped the season opener to South Dakota State, 3-2 (25-22, 19-25, 25-21, 14-25, 15-7) on Friday afternoon at Firestone Fieldhouse.
The match was the first of the 2026 season for the Hornets, and kicked off the three-day Asics Classic, hosted by Pepperdine. Sacramento State will play twice more at the tournament, including tomorrow at 2 p.m. vs. Villanova, and Sunday at 1 p.m. against host Pepperdine.
The Hornets were playing a South Dakota State team that finished 36th in the nation in last year's final RPI, won 23 matches, went 16-0 in the Summit League, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Despite starting a pair of true freshman (Gamlin and
Mia Molnar), the Hornets were right there.
Sacramento State's middle blocker duo of
Skyler Gartin (12 kills, .550 hit%, 3 blk) and Gamlin (8 kills, .800 hit%, 5 blk) combined for 20 kills and a .633 hitting percentage. Gamlin had a monster collegiate debut as her .800 hitting percentage (8-0-10) tied for the ninth best mark in Sacramento State's Div. I era. Gartin's 12 kills matched a career high and she had just one error in 20 swings.
Freshmen Gamlin, Molnar and
Addy Scheitlin each racked up their first collegiate kills, as Molnar finished with eight. Both Molnar and Gamlin started tonight's match. Combined with sophomore
Charlee Lepp (career-high nine kills), the Hornets started three Canadians and the trio combined for 25 kills.Â
Sacramento State was better statistically than the Jackrabbits in hitting percentage (.290-.266), aces (10-8) and team blocks (9.0-6.0), but South Dakota State never trailed in the fifth set, jumping out to a 5-1 lead. The Hornets forced a fifth set by closing the fourth on a 14-4 run.
Reigning All-American
Victoria Marthaler, who missed a good portion of the Hornets' preseason practices with injury, led the team with 13 kills to go along with 10 digs and five blocks. Newcomer
Makenna Wiepert, who transferred from UTSA, also finished with a double-double (34 ast, 11 digs). The Hornets ran a 6-2 offense the first two sets before switching to a traditional 5-1 during the final three frames.
Libero
Reese Ampi had match bests in digs (16) and aces (3). That included serving out the final five points in the Hornets' 25-19 win in the second set. She had two aces during that run. Setter
Kaylee Piepho added seven assists and a dig.
NOTES
• Sacramento State had just six attack errors through the first two sets - .324 (30-6-74)
• Reigning Big Sky Freshman of the Year outside hitter
Keonahi'ilani Solaita (injury) played in four sets and was limited to the back row. She finished with a pair of digs
• Head coach
Ruben Volta needs just one win for 300 career victories (299-260)
