SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Seniors Sandra Bandimere (15) and Stephanie Gamst (nine), junior Shannon Arts (eight) and sophomore Atlee Hubbard (11) combined for 43 of the Hornets’ 53 kills as Sacramento State swept San Francisco, 3-0 (30-28, 31-29, 30-20), in a non-conference volleyball match Tuesday evening at the Hornets Nest.The match served as Sacramento State’s home opener as the Hornets won their fourth match in a row and improved to 4-1 overall this season. San Francisco, who has never beaten the Hornets in Sacramento (0-11), dropped to 3-3 this season. Sacramento State has now won 12 of the last 14 meetings between the two teams dating back to 1992.
The Hornets’ 4-1 record is the best start since the 2002 squad also won four of its first five matches.
Bandimere added 13 digs to go along 15 kills while recording her team-best fourth double-double of the season. Hubbard’s 11 kills marked the third time the sophomore has recorded double-figure kills as she also posted eight digs and two service aces. Hornet sophomore Kristin Lutes led all players with 17 digs.
Sacramento State dominated at the net as the Hornets tallied 14 team blocks, including a season-high seven from senior Emily Wilson. Arts added six blocks and junior Natalie Melcher had four as the team’s 14 blocks were easily a season high. The Hornets also held the advantage over the Dons in kills (53-42), hitting percentage (.246-.122), digs (59-50) and team blocks (14-6).
Gamst’s nine kills accompanied a match-high .533 hitting percentage (9-1-15) as the senior increased her season mark to .388.
San Francisco was led by Stephanie Voelckers’ 16 kills and 14 digs, while Theresa Hart and Brynn Maurer each had 10 digs.
The Hornets led from start to finish in game one as the team was victorious despite hitting just .188. Sacramento State took advantage of four San Francisco service errors in the late stages of the game as a service error by Shelby Hamm ended things at 30-28.
The Dons jumped out to a 23-17 lead in the second game before Sacramento State went on a 9-2 run to take a brief 26-25 lead. Both teams exchanged points the rest of the way as a kill by Gamst saved the Dons’ only game point and tied things at 29-29. A kill by Hubbard and an attack error by San Francisco’s Katherine Hart ended the game in the Hornets’ favor, 31-29.
The Hornets dominated game three, leading from start to finish and hitting 342. Bandimere had five kills in the frame to lead all players.
Sacramento State returns to action this Friday-Saturday, Sept. 10-11, as it takes part in the Cal Poly-Best Western Royal Oak Invitational in San Luis Obispo, Calif. The Hornets will face host Cal Poly on Friday before taking on Notre Dame and Fresno State on Saturday.
