With the victory, Sacramento State (20-6, 8-2 Big Sky) strengthened its hold on second place in the conference standings as Montana State is now third with a 7-4 record. Eastern Washington (9-1) remains in first place in the Big Sky as the Eagles knocked off both Idaho State and Weber State on the road over the last two days. The top two teams in the conference standings receive a first-round bye in the Big Sky Tournament (Nov. 18-20) with the regular-season champion hosting the tournament.

The Hornets and Eastern Washington will square off on Thursday, Nov. 4, in Cheney, Wash. With a victory, Sacramento State would tie the Eagles for first place in the conference standings and own the tiebreaker over Eastern Washington. Should the Hornets lose to Eastern Washington, the Eagles would have a stronghold on first place as just four matches remain on the regular-season schedule for both teams.

Sacramento State’s overall record is the team’s best mark after 26 matches since the 1995 squad had a 23-3 record. The Hornets have won five in a row, nine of their last 10, and improved their record at home to 11-1. The victory also marked the 10th-straight season with at least 20 victories for the Hornets. With the loss, Montana State dropped to 15-7 overall to go along with its 7-4 conference record.

Hubbard also had 15 digs, four blocks and a .304 hitting percentage as she posted her fourth double-double in the last five matches. Hook’s 26 digs led all players as that output was her most since she had 26 against Montana State during the 2002 season. Wilson, who also had 12 kills, led all players in blocks as Sacramento State’s 16 team blocks were a season high. Senior Sandra Bandimere (13 kills, 18 digs and four blocks) and freshman Lindsay Haupt (13 kills, .321 hitting percentage) rounded out the Hornet foursome with double figures in kills.

Sacramento State had five players with double figures in digs, comprised of Bandimere, Hubbard, Hook, senior Stephanie Gamst (career-high 17 digs and three aces) and senior Jackie Coudert (season-high 12). Gamst, who has started every match this season as the Hornets’ setter, has notched double figures in digs in seven-straight matches and is averaging 3.42 digs per game over that span. Coudert had three more aces and now has seven in her last two matches after having just six through her first 19 contests of the season. Junior Shannon Arts added five kills and five blocks.

After splitting the first two games, Sacramento State and Montana State went back and forth in a game three that featured nine tied scores and seven lead changes. No team led by anything more than four points during the frame as Montana State had a 28-27 lead before Hubbard took over the game. The outside hitter from Menlo Park, Calif., had a kill to tie the score at 28-28, and then proceeded to combine on a block with Wilson, and add the game-winning kill as the Hornets scored each of the last three points of the frame. Sacramento State won game four with relative ease as Montana State had just one brief lead (2-1).

The Bobcats were led by Meggie Malyurek’s 17 kills and 24 digs while Kamber Kelly (20 digs) and Kandice Kelly (25) also had 20-plus digs. Montana State had more digs (104-96) than Sacramento State, but hit just .144 with five fewer blocks (16-11) and 11 fewer kills (68-57) than the Hornets.

The Hornets’ final four matches of the season are road contests at Eastern Washington (Nov. 4) and Portland State (Nov. 6), and home matches against Idaho State (Nov. 11) and Weber State (Nov. 13). Sacramento State seniors Bandimere, Coudert, Gamst and Wilson will be honored prior to the Weber State match for their contributions to the program.