The win for the Hornets was their 16th in a row, and also marked the first time that Sacramento State had ever knocked off Pacific in Stockton. The Tigers entered the match with a 25-3 all-time record against the Hornets, including a perfect 13-0 mark in Stockton. However, Sacramento State, which improved to 26-7 and has not lost a match since the month of September, limited the Tigers (16-13) to a .180 hitting percentage and took advantage of 16 Pacific service errors.

The 16-match winning streak for Sacramento State matches the team’s longest in the Div. I era (1991-pres.) as the 1995 squad also won 16 in a row. The Hornets are currently receiving votes in the CSTV/AVCA top 25 poll and have won 25 of their last 27 matches after beginning the season with a 1-5 record.

The Hornets will take on 20th-ranked Ohio in the tournament championship match tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 26) at 7 p.m. Ohio defeated Saint Mary’s earlier this evening, 3-1, and has won each of its last 22 matches.

Sacramento State won the first and third games, and Pacific won the second and fourth games to set up the decisive fifth frame. Entering tonight’s match, the Hornets had been 1-3 in five-gamers, but hit .308 in the pivotal game this evening, including eight kills without an error in 26 attacks.

In fact, Sacramento State never trailed, building a lead as large as four points at 13-9. Pacific, however responded by going on a 5-1 run, capped off by a Kara Uhl kill to tie things up at 14-14. From there, a critical service error by Ashley Groothuis and Haupt’s second kill of the game gave the Hornets their 16th straight victory.

Hubbard, Haupt and Michelle Franz each had two kills, and Jennifer Ferguson and Shannon Arts both had one during the fifth frame. For Hubbard, her 19 kills and 23 digs gave the junior her team-leading 21st double-double of the year. Franz (10 kills, six blocks) joined Haupt and Hubbard with double-figure kills. Haupt posted a match-high seven blocks and hit .297 (18-7-37), ending her streak of 14-consecutive matches of hitting at least .300.

The Tigers, who received a match-high 25 kills from Groothuis, had more kills (68-67), assists (65-55) and digs (119-107) than the Hornets, but Sacramento State committed three less attack errors and outblocked Pacific, 13.0-11.0.

The Hornets’ 107 digs tied a season high, as Hubbard, junior Kristin Lutes (team-high 25 digs), Ferguson (seven kills, 23 digs), senior Natalie Melcher (11 digs, four blocks) and junior Mallory Hook (11 digs) each posted double figures in digs. Four Hornets had at least four blocks, comprised of Haupt, Franz, Melcher and Arts (nine kills, four blocks).

Sacramento State, which has now won 23-straight matches when winning the first game of a contest this season, hit .188 as a team and had just three service aces compared to 14 service errors.

Joining Groothuis in double-figure kills for Pacific were Uhl (16 kills, 25 digs) and Susan Drollinger (10 kills). Julie Magud posted a match-high 29 digs.