Leading two games to one, USF appeared to have the match in control with a 28-25 lead in game four. From that point, Sacramento State tied the match with kills from Atlee Hubbard and Shannon Roland and an attack error from Berger. The Dons then had match point after a ball handling error was whistled against the Hornets but Sacramento State tied the game with a USF error.

The Hornets moved ahead 31-30 only to see Hasselberg record back-to-back kills to give USF its second match point. Junior Lindsey Haupt responded with a kill and Hubbard followed with another to make the score 33-32 in favor of Sacramento State. Haupt forced the fifth game with a kill.

San Francisco seized momentum early in game five, breaking a 2-2 tie with a 5-1 run. The Dons eventually stretched the lead to 14-7 before a furious Hornet comeback fell just short. Michelle Franz and Jennifer Ferguson began the rally with kills before USF was called for a double hit. An ace from Hubbard and a combo block from Klemenhagen and Franz made the score 14-12. Another error and ace tied the match before Alix Gombos recorded consecutive kills to seal the victory.

Individually, Sacramento State was led by 17 kills from Hubbard. Haupt (13), Roland (12) and Franz (11) also broke double figures. Franz set a career high with 13 blocks, which ties her for third in school history. Over the last two matches, the junior now has 25 blocks. Senior Kristin Lutes paced the team with 35 digs.

Gombos (16) and Maurer (14) joined Hasselberg and Berger in double figures. Haley Carroll tallied 34 digs while Maurer (23), Berger (14) and Haselberg (10) completed their double-doubles.

The win was the first for USF against Sacramento State in the Hornets Nest in 11 tries. The loss also snapped the Hornets’ 14-match home winning streak which stretched to last season and extended San Francisco’s mark to eight straight five-game wins.

Sacramento State will face Western Kentucky at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The team will then meet UC Riverside and Syracuse on Saturday.