With the victory, Sacramento State has now advanced to the Big Sky Tournament championship match each of the last five years and every year except 1999 since joining the conference in 1996. The Hornets improved to 5-0 against Montana State at the tournament, including semifinal victories in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002 and this season.

The Hornets will face Eastern Washington for the fifth-straight year in the championship match (Saturday, Nov. 20, 6 p.m.) as the Eagles defeated Portland State, 3-0, in the other semifinal. Sacramento State has defeated Eastern Washington three times in the last four years in the championship match, including the last two years in Cheney, Wash. Saturday''s contest will be televised live on the Dish Network (channel 410) and DirecTV (channel 644).

The winner of Saturday’s match receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, a place the Hornets have been six times in the last seven years. Sacramento State (24-7) has won each of the last two Big Sky Tournament championships, both over Eastern Washington in Cheney, Wash. The Hornets have won either the Big Sky’s regular season and/or tournament championship each of the last seven years.

The Hornets, who stopped Montana State’s four-match winning streak and ended the Bobcats’ season at 19-8, dominated the Montana State in kills (55-41), assists (52-38), digs (90-72) and team blocks (11-7). Sacramento State limited Montana State to a .103 hitting percentage as the Hornets never trailed by anything more than six points during the entire contest. The Hornets also took advantage of eight Montana State service errors and defeated the Bobcats in two of three meetings this year.

Hubbard’s 15 kills accompanied a .273 hitting percentage (15-3-44), 13 digs and four blocks. Bandimere had 21 digs and three blocks to go along with her 14 kills. Wilson’s 10 kills came without an error as she hit a team-high .417 (10-0-24) among Hornets with at least two kills. Wilson also led all players with five blocks.

In her first match back after missing the previous 10 contests with a broken knuckle in her hand, Sacramento State sophomore libero Kristin Lutes had a match-high 29 digs, her second-highest total of the season despite the match lasting just three games. Junior Mallory Hook rounded out the four Hornets with double figures in digs as the defensive specialist finished with 12.

Junior Shannon Arts chipped in seven kills and junior Natalie Melcher added five for a Hornet offense which had at least 17 kills in all three games. Conversely, Montana State never had more than 15 kills in any game.

The Bobcats, who had swept their last four opponents entering the match, were led by Kim Stonehouse’s 11 kills as she finished with 42 total attacks, 24 percent of the team’s swings during the contest. Kandice Kelly led Montana State with 20 digs.

In the first game, Sacramento State used an 11-0 run to increase a 15-12 lead to 26-12. From there, the Hornets cruised as Hubbard factored huge with eight kills, a .500 hitting percentage (8-0-16) and three blocks in the game. During the 11-0 run, Hubbard accounted for seven of the points with kills or combination blocks with Wilson. The Hornets limited Montana State to a .035 hitting percentage as the Bobcats had just 12 kills with 10 errors in 57 attacks. Sacramento State finished the frame with six team blocks, including four from Wilson. The Hornets are now 24-0 when winning the first game of a match this season.

Trailing, 29-26, in the second game, Sacramento State saved three game points to tie the score, and eventually take the lead at 30-29. Both teams exchanged points until the score was tied at 31-31. From there, a Montana State attack error and a kill from Wilson ended things at 33-31. The Hornets, who hit just .120 in the frame, never led until gaining a 30-29 advantage. During the Hornets’ 7-2 run to end the game, Bandimere tallied two kills, and Wilson and Gamst each had one kill.

In the third game, Sacramento State did not take its first lead until a Hubbard block gave the Hornets a 21-20 advantage. Both teams exchanged points until the Hornets broke open a 25-25 tie by ending the frame on a 5-1 run. During the run, Bandimere had a kill, and combined with Wilson on a block. Sacramento State limited Montana State to a .148 hitting percentage as the Bobcats never hit better than .150 in any game during the contest.