With the win, the Hornets won their third match in a row while improving to 2-0 at the tournament and 4-5 overall this season. After losing five in a row to fall to 1-5, Sacramento State has bounced back nicely with victories over Houston, Nevada and Columbia. The Hornets, who are trying to win their second-straight Sacramento State Invitational, wrap up tournament play tonight (7:30 p.m.) against Loyola Marymount.

Columbia fell to 0-2 at the tournament and 0-2 overall this season as the Lions lost to Loyola Marymount yesterday evening.

Sacramento State never trailed during the entire match, limiting Columbia to a .125 hitting percentage (42-26-128) and taking advantage of nine team blocks. Lutes accounted for almost half of the Hornets’ 50 digs as the junior libero has now led Sacramento State in digs in every match this season. After failing to hit above .192 in each of its first six matches of the season, the Hornets have now hit above .240 in three-straight matches, including this morning’s .256 hitting percentage.

Roland has now tallied double-figure kills in all but one match this year and leads the team with 3.47 kills per game. Junior Atlee Hubbard tallied nine kills and 10 digs, junior Leah Klemenhagen matched her career high with six kills, and sophomore Lindsay Haupt added five kills and a team-best five blocks for the Hornets. Senior Natalie Melcher (one kill, 20 assists, three blocks) played the first two games at setter and freshman Rose Burke (15 assists, two blocks) played the third game at the position.

Natalie Gerling led Columbia with 14 kills and 14 digs and Cassie Ligh added nine kills and 17 digs for the Lions.