Bandimere’s 36 kills eclisped her previous career high of 27, and were the most kills by a Hornet since Jill Haas had 40 against Cal State Northridge in 1996. In fact, the 36 kills were the second most by a Hornet in Sacramento State’s Div. I history (1991-pres.). Trailing, 14-13, in the fifth and decisive game, Bandimere had a kill to tie the score at 14-14, before a combination block from Stephanie Gamst and Shannon Arts, and one more kill from Bandimere ended things at 16-14.

With the victory, Sacramento State improved to 21-7 overall and 9-3 in the Big Sky. The Hornets remain in second place, two games behind first-place Eastern Washington (11-1) with two matches to play in the regular season. Eastern Washington needs to win just one of its final two matches next week to clinch the conference’s regular-season title and host the Big Sky Tournament for the third year in a row. The top two teams in the conference receive a first-round bye in the tournament (Nov. 18-20).

Sacramento State has now won 10 of its last 12 matches and the team improved to 7-5 on the road this season. The Hornets have now defeated Portland State 23-straight times dating back to the 1988 season. Sacramento State’s final two matches of the regular season will take place at home on Thursday, Nov. 11 (Idaho State) and Saturday, Nov. 13 (Weber State).

Sacramento State hit .301 as a team, as Bandimere, senior Emily Wilson (12 kills, three blocks, .308) and junior Natalie Melcher (10 kills, .409) each had double figures in kills and hitting percentages above .300. For Melcher, who has battled physical problems during the past three weeks, the 10 kills were her most since she had a season-high 12 at Nevada. Bandimere’s 36 kills came with just eight errors in 65 total attacks.

The Hornets had 17 more kills than Portland State (80-63), including 12 in the fifth game. Sacramento State hit .524 in the fifth game with just one error in 21 total attacks. The Hornets had three players with double figures in digs, comprised of senior Stephanie Gamst (career-high tying 17), sophomore Atlee Hubbard (15) and junior Mallory Hook (14).

Sacramento State hit a combined .500 (52-5-94) in the three games it won, including 24 kills and zero errors (.600) in game three. In games one and four (both Hornet losses), Sacramento State hit just .098 (28-19-92). The Hornets had been 0-7 in matches where they lost the first game prior to today’s victory.

Portland State, which dropped to 13-12 and 5-7 with the loss, had four more digs (73-69), three more blocks (9-6) and six more service aces (11-5) than Sacramento State, but could not overcome the large discrepancy in kills. The Vikings had three players with double figures in kills (Jessica Brodie 21, Niki Lambert 12, and Lisa Thomas 10) while Kaylene Munson hit a match-best .889 with eight kills and no errors in nine attempts.

Prior to next Saturday’s home match against Weber State, the Hornets will honors seniors Bandimere, Gamst, Wilson and Jackie Coudert for their contributions to the program.