A total of four Hornets posted double figures in kills comprised of Hubbard, senior Shannon Arts (10 kills) and sophomores Lindsay Haupt (10 kills, .333 hitting percentage and a match-high five blocks) and Jennifer Ferguson (10 kills, .308 hitting percentage and 11 digs). Sacramento State hit .246 in the match while limiting Northern Arizona to a .079 hitting percentage as the Lumberjacks tallied just 36 kills and 26 errors in 126 total attacks.

Sacramento State now has three different winning streaks this season of at least four matches as the Hornets improved to 16-7 overall. Sacramento State also remains on top of the Big Sky standings with a 6-1 league record, one game better than second-place Portland State (5-2). The Hornets are now at the midway point of the conference schedule as the team seeks its first Big Sky regular season title since the 2001 season. Sacramento State won the Big Sky Tournament title in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

With the loss, Northern Arizona dropped to 3-13 overall and 2-5 in the conference. The Lumberjacks had swept both Idaho State and Montana at home and entered the match with a 2-2 league mark in the Rolle Activity Center. The Hornets improved to 20-6 all-time against NAU and have now won eight of the past nine meetings between the two squads.

Sacramento State junior Kristin Lutes led all players with 16 digs while setter Natalie Melcher finished with 42 assists, eight digs and four blocks. Northern Arizona was led by Katy Knowlton’s 13 kills as no other Lumberjack player had more than six kills, and no NAU players posted more than nine digs. NAU’s largest lead of the night was two points (4-2 and 5-3 in the third game).

Sacramento State was playing without the services of sophomore middle hitter Michelle Franz, who did not make the trip for personal reasons. Franz will be back in action next week for the Hornets’ road trip to Montana and Montana State. Starting in place of Franz was junior middle hitter Leah Klemenhagen who started her first match of the season and responded with five kills and a block. With Klemenhagen gaining the start, all but one member of Sacramento State’s team (Brittany Ferguson) has made at least one start this season.

The Hornets will look to extend their winning streak and wrap up their modest three-match road trip with contests next week at Montana (Friday, Oct. 21, 6 p.m. PST) and Montana State (Saturday, Oct. 22, 6 p.m. PST). Sacramento State has won five of its last six matches on the road (5-3 overall this season).