Sophomore Kazmiera Imrie

Eastern Washington (No. 3 seed) defeated No. 2 Northern Arizona, 3-2 (30-21, 30-22, 25-30, 25-30, 15-7), while No. 1 Sacramento State defeated No. 5 Montana State, 3-0 (30-25, 30-25, 30-23). With the losses, the Lumberjacks and the Bobcats were eliminated.

Eastern Washington (19-5) and Sacramento State (20-8) also squared off in the Big Sky Tournament championship match last season with the Hornets winning in three games. Northern Arizona closes its season with a 16-7 record while Montana State ends its season with a 18-7 record.

In the late match, sophomore Kazmiera Imrie led all players with 15 kills and senior Tasman Dwyer chipped in 14 kills and a match-high seven blocks to lead the Hornets. Sacramento State hit .300 in the match while holding Montana State to a .174 mark. Junior Jayme Wright also recorded double figures in kills (13) as the Hornets held the advantage over Montana State in kills (54-41), assists (52-37), and team blocks (12.5-5.0).

Montana State was led by Anne Watts (nine kills, 11 digs) and Aimee Halyk (nine kills).

Sacramento State led from start to finish in game one as the team held Montana State to a .161 hitting percentage. Wright led all players with six kills and a .500 hitting percentage in the frame. With the score tied, 21-21, in game two, Sacramento State went on a 6-0 run to take control. Senior Kelly Voeltz served out six-straight points during the run and Imrie finished the game with nine kills and a .900 hitting percentage (9-0-10).

Montana State held brief leads (5-4 and 9-8) in game three, but the Hornets were too much in the end as the Bobcats hit only .100 in the third.

In the early match, Eastern Washington won the decisive fifth game after each team won two straight. The Eagles’ Janelle Ruen finished with a match-high 23 kills while Lindsay Crandell (20), Robyn Felder (13) and Lindsay Page (11) each added double-figure kills. Northern Arizona was led in double-figure kills by Maggie Barrera (19), Xylena Sanders (19), Chelsea Robb (11) and Megan Greene (11). Whitney Donahue added a match-high 59 assists for the Lumberjacks.

In the final frame, Eastern Washington never trailed as Lindsay Crandell accounted for seven of the Eagles’ 15 points. The freshman outside hitter finished with three kills, three block assists and the game-wining service ace.

With the score tied, 18-18, in the first game, Eastern Washington went on a 6-0 run as Monica Lynch served out six-straight points. Northern Arizona got to within four points at 25-21, but could get no closer. Down 8-6 in game two, Eastern Washington went on a 9-0 run as Jessie Wright served nine-straight points. Northern Arizona could not recover as the Eagles’ Ruen and Crandell each had five kills.

Barrera’s six kills paced Northern Arizona to a game three victory and a .370 hitting percentage. The Lumberjacks led from the start to finish in the game. Northern Arizona used a 5-0 run early on to go up, 7-3, in game four. The Lumberjacks opened up leads as large as 10 points as the team hit .364 in the frame.