Sophomore Kaz Imrie |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Five Hornets recorded double-figures in kills led by Lisa Beauchene’s 13 as the Sacramento State volleyball team concluded its regular season schedule with a 3-1 (30-21, 22-30, 30-24, 30-19) victory over Portland State Saturday evening in Hornet Gym.With the win, Sacramento State, which will be the No. 1 seed and serve as hosts of the Big Sky Tournament Nov. 15-17, concluded the regular season with a 19-8 overall record and a 12-2 conference mark. Portland State finishes its season 4-16 overall and 1-13 in the conference.
The first-place finish marks the fifth-consecutive season in which Sacramento State has won the Big Sky regular season title. Additionally, the Hornets have won each of their last 17 conference matches in Hornet Gym. Sacramento State also becomes the first team in Big Sky Conference history to win five-consecutive regular season championships.
Beauchene’s 13 kills accompanied an .867 hitting percentage, which was the second-best mark in school history. The sophomore setter tallied 13 kills with zero errors in 15 attempts to go along with 51 assists and seven digs. Alison Gahr (12), Jayme Wright (12), Kazmiera Imrie (11) and Tasman Dwyer (11) rounded out the Hornets in double-figure kills. Wright also posted a match-high 13 digs while both Imrie and Dwyer finished with five blocks.
Portland State was led by Richell Wilson (match-high 18 kills), Stacy Ball (seven kills, match-high seven blocks) and Nicole Geils (12 kills, six blocks).
Sacramento State had won 19-consecutive games against Big Sky competition at home until it’s second-game loss this evening.
The Hornets led the Vikings in hitting percentage (.282-.182), kills (69-49), assists (66-43) and digs (50-44). Portland State held the advantage in team blocks (13.0-10.0), which included seven in game two.
Beauchene’s season hitting percentage of .377 would rank as best mark in school history. The current mark is .355, set by Kerry Lewis in 1994.
As hosts and No. 1 seed for the Big Sky Tournament next week, the Hornets receive a first-round bye and will play Friday, Nov. 16, against an opponent yet to be decided. The other teams who will appear in the Big Sky Tournament in no particular order are Eastern Washington, Northern Arizona, Weber State, Montana State and Idaho State.
The winner of the tourney receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, which begins Nov. 29. The Hornets will be looking to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth-consecutive year.
