VOLLEYBALL TAKES THE FIRST SET, BUT FALLS IN FOUR TO UC DAVIS

FRESNO, Calif. -- UC Davis' Allison Whitson (14) and Devon Damelio (14) combined for 28 of the team's 50 kills as the Aggies defeated Sacramento State, 3-1 (19-25, 25-13, 25-23, 25-20), in the third and final round of the Fresno State Volleyball Classic Saturday evening at the Save Mart Center.

With the loss, Sacramento State (4-5 overall) concluded the two-day tournament with a 1-2 record. The Hornets completed a dramatic 3-2 victory over host Fresno State last night, but fell to both Utah Valley (3-0) and UC Davis today. 

Sacramento State posted its two lowest hitting percentages of the season today, comprised of a .079 mark against Utah Valley and .092 against the Aggies. The Hornets entered the tournament with a respectable .237 team hitting percentage, but combined to hit just .115 during the tournament.

After the Hornets and Aggies split the first two sets, the third frame was close the entire way as neither squad held larger than a three point advantage. After a kill from Jessie Genger saved a set point and cut the Aggie lead to 24-23, a heartbreaking service error gave the Aggies a victorious third set. In the fourth, Sacramento State held a 17-15 lead, but the Aggies closed on a 10-3 run to take the match.

Although Sacramento State had just 42 kills and hit .092, the team did have 66 digs, 15.0 team blocks and 10 aces. However, that was not enough against a UC Davis squad that hit .220 and finished with eight more kills than the Hornets.

Sacramento State was led by senior Janelle Currey, who posted match highs in both kills (16) and digs (21). Currey was named to the all-tournament team along with rightside hitter Kiley Mansfield, who had an instrumental role in Friday night's win over Fresno State.

Genger added 11 kills and 15 digs, and libero Sydney Kordic had 14 digs. Of the Hornets' 15.0 team blocks, a career-high nine came from Ashley Newcomb while Kayla Beal (4), Olivia Moss (4), Genger (3) and Hannah Hettinga (3) all posted at least three stuffs. Of the Hornets' 10 aces, three came from Genger, and two each from Hettinga, Beal and Sloan Lovett.

Tonight marked the final non-conference tune-up for the Hornets, as they host Eastern Washington on Thursday night at 7 p.m. in the Big Sky Conference opener.