The victory by the Hornets snapped an 11-match losing streak to Pacific that dated back to the 1997 season. In fact, the Hornets hadn’t taken a game from Pacific since the 1999 season as the Tigers had swept the Hornets in six-consecutive matches. With the victory, Sacramento State won for the fifth time in the last six matches while improving to 16-6 overall this season. The Hornets improved their record to 8-1 at home as all eight victories have come via a three-game sweep.

Pacific, which is currently receiving votes, but is not ranked in the top 25, has now lost three in a row (including 3-2 defeats to Stanford and Cal State Northridge last week). The Tigers (10-6) were swept for just the second time this season (Sept. 5 at Santa Clara) as the team had won seven in a row prior to their current three-match losing streak. Pacific still owns a 25-3 all-time record against the Hornets dating back to 1976. The Hornets and Tigers have played each other at least once in each of the last 13 seasons.

Haupt’s 12 kills accompanied a .579 hitting percentage as the freshman had just one error in 19 total attacks. The middle hitter also posted four blocks, including a combination block with senior Stephanie Gamst to end the match. Bandimere had 12 kills, nine digs and four blocks as the senior has now led or tied for the team lead in kills in all but three matches this season.

Joining Bandimere and Haupt with double-figure kills was sophomore Atlee Hubbard (11 kills, .400 hitting percentage and a match-high 15 digs) and senior Emily Wilson (10 kills, .316 hitting percentage and a match-high six blocks). Hubbard’s double-double was her fifth of the season as the outside hitter’s .400 hitting percentage was her second-best mark of the year. Sacramento State hit .326, the fifth-best total of the season for a team that entered the match with a .213 season hitting percentage.

The Hornets dominated the match from start to finish as the team never trailed through games one and two. In fact, Sacramento State led Pacific in kills (54-43), hitting percentage (.326-.164), assists (46-40), digs (60-54) and team blocks (10-6). Gamst had 12 digs and junior Mallory Hook added 11 to accompany Hubbard with double figures in digs for the Hornets.

Pacific was led by Ashley Groothuis’ 13 kills while Stevie Mussie recorded 12 kills and 13 digs. Groothuis was the only Tiger to hit above .167 (among players with more than one kill) as she finished with a .263 mark.

Sacramento State never trailed during the first game as the Hornets connected for 19 kills with just two errors (.415 hitting percentage) during the frame. Sacramento State used a huge 14-3 run to take a commanding 27-10 lead. Haupt led all players with five kills and a .625 hitting percentage (5-0-8) in the frame.

In the second game, the Hornets again never trailed as the team jumped out to a 7-2 advantage. Sacramento State never trailed by anything less than four points the rest of the way. The team had just three errors in the game and hit .333 while limiting UOP to a .140 mark.

In game three, Pacific took its largest lead of the match at three points (20-17) before Sacramento State mounted a an 11-4 run which included three kills from Hubbard and two from Wilson. The Tigers closed the deficit to 28-27 before a kill from Bandimere and the Haupt/Gamst block ended the match.

Sacramento State heads back into Big Sky Conference play this Saturday, Oct. 23, as the team hosts Northern Arizona at 7 p.m. Including the contest against Northern Arizona, the Hornets will play three of their next four matches inside the Hornets Nest.