VOLLEYBALL POSTS ANOTHER THREE-GAME SWEEP, THIS TIME OVER NORTHERN COLORADO

9/22/2007

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Senior Missie Stidham posted match highs in both kills (22) and digs (15), and senior Michelle Franz added 10 kills and seven blocks to lead Sacramento State to a three-game sweep of Northern Colorado (30-26, 30-22, 30-22) in a Big Sky Conference volleyball match Saturday evening at the Hornets Nest.

The victory improved Sacramento State to 13-3 overall and 2-0 in the Big Sky. The Hornets, who opened their Big Sky season with a 3-0 victory over Northern Arizona last night, have now won a season-high seven in a row and 10 of the last 11. Sacramento State has dropped just one match since Aug. 28, and that came in a five-game loss to Oregon State.

Sacramento State has now won 57 straight regular season home matches against Big Sky competition, a streak which dates back to 1999. In addition, each of the last 11 regular-season home matches against a conference team has resulted in a three-game sweep for the Hornets. That streak dates back to 2005.

Northern Colorado, which defeated conference foes Montana and Montana State at home last week, dropped to 4-10 overall and 2-1 in the Big Sky with the loss. The Hornets improved to 7-0 all-time against the Bears.

Besides her 22 kills and 15 digs, Stidham also had a .318 hitting percentage (22-8-44), an ace and two blocks. She had at least seven kills in all three games of the match. Franz was nearly unstoppable with 10 kills, no errors, a .625 hitting percentage (10-0-16) and seven blocks. Two of those blocks were solos as she was part of a Sacramento State defensive effort that limited Northern Colorado to a .202 hitting percentage.

During the Hornets’ seven-match winning streak, Stidham has been remarkable, averaging 5.96 kills and 4.74 digs per game with a .347 hitting percentage. She has posted at least 21 kills in three of the last four matches despite three of those contests lasting just three games.

Senior Lindsay Haupt collected eight kills, and Jennifer Ferguson posted seven as the senior foursome of Stidham, Franz, Haupt and Ferguson combined for 47 of the Hornets’ 56 kills. Ferguson also had 13 digs. Freshman Whitney Mendivil added four kills and a .600 hitting percentage (4-1-5).

Northern Colorado, which failed to hold a lead larger than four points during the entire match, was led by Dulcie Stone’s 10 kills and .346 hitting percentage.

Sacramento State will now embark upon a four-match road trip beginning next week against both Idaho State (Friday, Sept. 28, 6 p.m. PST) and Weber State (Saturday, Sept. 29, 6 p.m. PST). The Hornets do not return home again until a non-conference matchup against Santa Clara on Oct. 9.