FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Ellie Butterfield and Nikki Randall combined for 46 kills and five solo blocks to lead Northern Arizona to a 3-2 (30-25, 31-29, 23-30, 22-30, 15-11) victory over Sacramento State in a Big Sky Conference volleyball match Saturday evening at the Rolle Activity Center.With the win, the Lumberjacks snapped a five-game losing streak against Sacramento State as the team’s last win over the Hornets came in November of 2000. Northern Arizona improved to 10-11 overall and 4-4 in the conference. The Hornets continued to struggle in five-game matches as the team is now 0-5 in five-gamers this year, including a loss earlier this week to San Francisco. Sacramento State has been outscored, 75-49, and has not scored more than 11 points in the fifth game this year.
The Hornets, who have now lost each of their last three road matches, dropped to 15-10 overall and 6-2 in the Big Sky. Sacramento State is still all alone in second place in the Big Sky standings, two games back of first-place Eastern Washington (8-0).
Butterfield had a career-high 24 kills to lead all players, while also finishing with 15 digs, two aces and four blocks. Randall had 22 kills to compliment Butterfield, while Sarah Rehn (11 kills, 14 digs) and Renee Lathrop (11 kills) also finished with double-figure kills.
NAU had 19 more kills (78-59) than Sacramento State as junior Sandra Bandimere (17 kills, 10 digs) and freshman Jennifer Ferguson (13 kills, team-best 19 digs) were the only Hornets with more than nine kills. Sacramento State hit just .148, the team’s fourth-worst performance of the season. Bandimere was the only Hornet to hit above .300 as she finished with a .317 mark, committing just four errors in 41 total attacks.
Sacramento State senior Lisa Beauchene was not far off a quadruple-double as the co-captain finished with nine kills, 41 assists, 11 digs and a match-high seven blocks. Sophomore Shannon Arts and junior Emily Wilson each had six blocks as the Hornets finished with 12.5 team blocks.
Sacramento State returns to action next week for two Big Sky matches on the road against Montana State (Friday, Oct. 31) and Montana (Saturday, Nov. 1). The Hornets have just seven matches left on their regular-season schedule (one non-conference contest and six Big Sky matches). The Big Sky Tournament begins on Nov. 20 at the regular-season champion’s home court.
