DENVER -- Sacramento State overcame large deficits in both the second and third sets while saving a combined six set points to eventually sweep past UC Santa Barbara, 3-0 (25-23, 28-26, 27-25), in the second round of the Denver Volleyball Classic on Saturday morning at Hamilton Gymnasium.
Sacramento State overcame deficits of 17-9 in the second set, and 23-16 in the third set while saving three set points in both frames. The no-quit Hornets kept winning the big points late in each frame, saving set points at 22-24, 23-24 and 25-26 in the second, and then saving set points at 22-24, 23-24 and 24-25 in the third.
With the victory, the Hornets (3-3 overall) improved to 2-0 at the two-day tournament, and will play for the tourney title tonight against host Denver, who is also 2-0 thus far at the event. The two teams will play at 6 p.m. PDT on a match that is being televised live on Altitude (DirecTV channel 681). Sacramento State opened the tournament yesterday with a 3-1 victory over McNeese State.
UC Santa Barbara, which lost in five sets to Denver last night (25-23 in the fifth), fell to 2-3 overall with the loss.
Though the Gauchos had more kills (43-40), digs (76-69) and team blocks (8.0-7.0), Sacramento State limited UC Santa Barbara to a .100 hitting percentage. The Gauchos hit just .184 in the first set, followed by .074 in the second and .043 in the third, finishing with 43 kills and 28 errors in 150 attacks. The Hornets have now limited three opponents to .100 hitting percentages or below this year.
"I really thought everyone played well today, and this was a team effort win," Sacramento State head coach Ruben Volta said. "We kept digging everything they hit at us, and kept rallies alive with inspired play. I was really proud of the effort and how this team never quit despite being down big in two sets. This was a win against a very good UC Santa Barbara team that attacks the ball well."
Outside hitter Mikaela Nocetti led the way with 16 kills, 11 digs, four blocks and two aces. It was Nocetti that had late kills and aces in both the second and third sets to lead the Hornet comeback. In the second set, with the Hornets trailing, 22-24, Nocetti had back-to-back kills followed by an ace. In the third, with the Hornets yet again trailing, 22-24, the senior co-captain had a kill followed by an ace to tie things at 24-24.
Skyler Takeda had a career-high tying 17 digs to go along with a pair of aces. With the Hornets trailing, 23-17, in the third, it was Takeda that served five straight points. Libero Paige Swinney also had 17 digs to round out the three Hornets with double figures in digs.
Middle blocker Lana Brown had six kills and three blocks, outside hitter Sarah Davis registered seven kills and nine digs, setter Ashtin Olin had 34 assists, and middle blocker Brie Gathright had three blocks and a season-best five digs. Rightside hitter Cianna Andrews added six kills.
For UCSB, Lindsey Ruddins had 15 kills and 14 digs, but was limited to a .138 hitting percentage. She entered the tournament averaging 4.62 kills per set to go with a .249 hitting percentage.


November 17, 2018
VOLLEYBALL’S MATCH AGAINST NORTHERN COLORADO IS CANCELED

November 13, 2018
VOLLEYBALL MOVES TO 11-6 IN LEAGUE AFTER ROAD WIN AT PORTLAND STATE

November 10, 2018
VOLLEYBALL FALLS IN FOUR SETS AT IDAHO STATE

November 8, 2018
VOLLEYBALL DROPS 3-1 ROAD DECISION AT WEBER STATE


October 27, 2018
VOLLEYBALL SPLITS ROAD TRIP AFTER THREE-SET SWEEP AT SOUTHERN UTAH

October 25, 2018
WINNING STREAK COMES TO AN END, VOLLEYBALL FALLS AT NORTHERN ARIZONA

October 23, 2018
FIRST-PLACE VOLLEYBALL ON THE ROAD FOR A PAIR THIS WEEK

October 22, 2018
TWO STRAIGHT WEEKS! NOCETTI NAMED BIG SKY PLAYER OF THE WEEK AGAIN

October 20, 2018
VOLLEYBALL WINS FIFTH STRAIGHT, REMAINS IN TIE FOR FIRST PLACE

October 15, 2018
NOCETTI NAMED BIG SKY VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

October 13, 2018
VOLLEYBALL MOVES INTO FIRST PLACE AFTER SWEEP OF WEBER STATE

October 11, 2018
VOLLEYBALL CONTINUES TO ROLL, SWEEPS IDAHO STATE AT HOME

October 6, 2018
VOLLEYBALL WINS AT EASTERN WASHINGTON, NOW 4-2 IN BIG SKY PLAY

October 4, 2018
VOLLEYBALL’S WINNING STREAK SNAPPED IN 3-1 LOSS AT IDAHO

October 1, 2018
OLIN NAMED BIG SKY OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

September 29, 2018
VOLLEYBALL WINS THIRD STRAIGHT, BEATS NORTHERN ARIZONA IN FIVE SETS

September 27, 2018
VOLLEYBALL’S MATCH TONIGHT VS SOUTHERN UTAH PUSHED BACK TO A 8:00 PM START

September 27, 2018
VOLLEYBALL BEATS SOUTHERN UTAH, WINS 1,000TH MATCH IN PROGRAM HISTORY

September 26, 2018
VOLLEYBALL HOSTS A PAIR OF MATCHES; SEEKS 1,000TH WIN IN PROGRAM HISTORY

September 22, 2018
VOLLEYBALL WINS AT MONTANA STATE; NOCETTI SECURES 1,000TH CAREER KILL

September 18, 2018
VOLLEYBALL OPENS BIG SKY CONFERENCE PLAY THIS WEEK AT THE MONTANA SCHOOLS


September 14, 2018
INJURY RAVAGED VOLLEYBALL PLAYS TOUGH, BUT FALLS TO PORTLAND

September 14, 2018
VOLLEYBALL FALLS TO 13TH-RANKED WASHINGTON

September 10, 2018
SWINNEY NAMED BIG SKY DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK


September 6, 2018
VOLLEYBALL HOSTS THE 4-TEAM SACRAMENTO STATE INVITE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

September 4, 2018
VOLLEYBALL COMES UP JUST SHORT IN 3-1 HOME LOSS TO UC DAVIS


August 28, 2018
VOLLEYBALL FALLS ON THE ROAD TO SANTA CLARA


August 25, 2018
VOLLEYBALL FALLS IN FOUR SETS TO ARIZONA

August 24, 2018
VOLLEYBALL OPENS SEASON WITH 3-1 VICTORY OVER UTAH STATE

August 8, 2018
VOLLEYBALL SELECTED THIRD IN BIG SKY PRESEASON COACHES POLL