The Gaels, who overcame a 7-4 deficit in game five, improved to 10-1 this season. Sacramento State dropped to 10-4 and had its season-high tying four-match winning streak snapped. Sacramento State had won six straight and 19 of the last 20 meetings in the series against Saint Mary’s prior to tonight’s loss. The Gaels, who are currently receiving votes in the top 25, improved to 5-0 in five-game matches this season, including victories over Stanford, BYU and Oregon State.

Saint Mary’s dominated at the net as the team posted 20 team blocks, including a match-best 13 from Stacey O’Connor, six from Lindsey Bogason, and four from both Melissa Stidham and Christina Kirk. The Gaels’ statistics also included 108 digs, including 20-plus dig matches from Kolkka, Kaui Salzman (25) and Stidham (22).

Sacramento State jumped out to a 7-4 lead in the fifth and decisive game, but Sacramento State committed two attack errors, two receiving errors and a service error to help Saint Mary’s erase the deficit and stake to a 13-10 lead. Sacramento State closed to within one point on a pair of occasions (13-12 and 14-13), but setter Mandy Bible’s second kill of the match ended things at 15-13.

The Hornets also lost in five games to 22nd-ranked Santa Clara in the season opener and are now 1-7 in five-game matches dating back to last season. Sacramento State limited Saint Mary’s to a .199 hitting percentage (the 12th time a Hornet opponent has hit below .200 this season), but the Hornets hit just .189 while committing 10 service errors.

Three Hornets had double figures in kills, comprised of senior Sandra Bandimere (19), sophomore Atlee Hubbard (16) and junior Shannon Arts (10). With the exception of freshman Lindsay Haupt (six kills, .500 hitting percentage), no Sacramento State player with more than two kills hit above .250. Sophomore Kristin Lutes tallied a career-high 33 digs, the most by a Hornet since Angela Lewis had 33 during the 1999 season.

Sacramento State squandered a glorious opportunity in game one as the team jumped out to a 27-24 lead. Saint Mary’s, however, was able to close out the game on a 6-1 run as Stidham served out four of those points. The Gaels also erased a 29-25 deficit in game two, but the Hornets were able to prevail, 31-29.

Tonight’s loss at home was the first for the Hornets this season (5-1) and it snapped an 11-match winning streak dating back to last year. Sacramento State had swept all five of its opponents at home this season prior to the loss.

Sacramento State returns to action this Saturday, Sept. 25, as the team opens up Big Sky Conference play at Northern Arizona. The Hornets are gunning for their eighth-consecutive conference championship.