SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento State middle blockers
Skyler Gartin (8-0-9),
Kelsey Heffner (7-1-8) and
Nikola Gamlin (6-0-9) combined to hit .769 to lead the Hornets to a sweep of UC Riverside on Saturday afternoon at the Nest. Scores were 25-11, 25-18, 27-25.
With the victory, Sacramento State improved to 7-6 overall and 2-0 in the Big West. The Hornets, who played their first-ever Big West match on Thursday, moved their record to 5-0 at home. Of those five wins, three have come via sweep. Sacramento State has also won 15 of its last 16 matches in the Nest dating back to last season.
The loss dropped UC Riverside to 4-9 overall and 0-2 in league. The Hornets have defeated the Highlanders on four straight occasions. Riverside has not beat Sacramento State since 2009.
Today marked the second leg of a four-match homestand that will see the Hornets play next week against both Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara. Sacramento State is playing an 18-game Big West schedule.
The Hornets' trio of middles was incredible this afternoon, combining for 21 kills with just one error in 26 attacks. They were a huge part of Sacramento State hitting a season-high .413. Both Hornet matches this week featured large hitting percentage, including .400 in Thursday's win over California Baptist.
Sacramento State won the first two sets handily, before overcoming a 17-11 deficit in the third set to win. A kill from
Keonahi'ilani Solaita - her 13th of the match - put things away at 27-25, in front of an energetic Kids Day crowd of 484.
Eleven Hornets played today, and had commanding advantages over Riverside in kills (57-20), hitting percentage (.413-.149), assists (52-20), and digs (41-33). Sacramento State hit at least .325 in all three frames. The Highlanders had just one player finish with more than four kills.
Gartin's eight kills accompanied a career-high .889 hitting percentage - the fourth best mark in school history. Heffner posted career highs in kills (7) and hitting percentage (.750), while also tallying a season-best three blocks. Gamlin's six kills came with a .667 hitting percentage, as the true freshman continued her assault on the opposition. Gamlin is now hitting a whopping .409 overall, and .632 against conference opposition.
Victoria Marthaler led all players with 14 kills, Solaita posted 13 kills, a .345 hitting percentage and nine digs, and
Charlee Lepp registered four kills and a .667 hitting percentage. Setter
Makenna Wiepert, once again, ran a crisp offense with 38 assists to go with 10 digs. The double-double is her team-best eighth of the season.
Reese Ampi had nine digs, and
Mia Molnar five kills and two blocks.
The Hornets return to action next week at home on Thursday vs. Cal Poly, and Saturday vs. UC Santa Barbara. Both matches are 7 p.m. starts. Not only do the Hornets open the Big West season by playing four straight at home, seven of the team's first nine conference matches are in the Nest.
NOTES
• Ampi now has 978 career digs as she nears the 1,000 milestone
• Marthaler has 838 career kills (772 in a Hornet uniform in just 43 matches)
• Wiepert improved her career assist total to 1,283
