VOLLEYBALL DISMANTLES MONTANA STATE FOR 11TH STRAIGHT VICTORY

10/7/2007

BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Senior Lindsay Haupt led all players with 13 kills and Sacramento State matched its season high with a .382 hitting percentage on the way to a three-game sweep (30-23, 30-9, 30-15) of Montana State in a Big Sky Conference volleyball match Saturday evening at Shroyer Gym.

With the victory, Sacramento State won its 11th match in a row and improved to 17-3 overall and 6-0 in the Big Sky. The winning streak matches the program’s second longest in the last eight years. The Hornets have swept each of their last seven opponents, including all six Big Sky opponents this season.

The 17-3 record is the team’s best mark after 20 matches since the 1995 squad had an 18-2 record. No Big Sky team has scored more than 26 points in a game against the Hornets. Sacramento State improved to 28-5 all-time against Montana State, including victories in each of the teams’ last eight meetings.

With the loss, Montana State, which lost its eighth match in a row, dropped to 1-17 overall and 0-6 in the Big Sky.

In a match which lasted just one hour, 24 minutes, Sacramento State (50) almost doubled Montana State’s total amount of kills (26) despite the match lasting just three games. In fact, while the Hornets matched their season high with a .382 hitting percentage, Montana State was limited to a negative hitting percentage (-.060). The Bobcats had six more errors (32) than total kills (26) in 100 attacks.

Sacramento State hit better than .350 in all three games, and three Hornets hit .550 or better. Haupt’s 13 kills accompanied a .550 hitting percentage (13-2-20) and match-high six blocks. Senior Michelle Franz finished with five kills and a .625 hitting percentage as she had no errors in eight attacks. Sophomore Desiree Hoyum hit better than .300 for the third time in her last four matches, finishing with three kills and a .750 hitting percentage.

Senior Missie Stidham recorded double figures in kills for the 19th consecutive match, finishing with 10 kills and nine digs. Senior Jennifer Ferguson had nine kills, seven digs and a .353 hitting percentage, and freshman Whitney Mendivil added a season-high five kills. Freshman MaddisonThivierge had three kills and a .333 hitting percentage. No Hornet had more than nine digs, but eight different Sacramento State players had at least one block.

Montana State’s largest lead of the match was 2-0 early in the second game, but that lead was quickly erased as the Hornets concluded the frame on a 30-7 run.

Sacramento State is now hitting .325 against Big Sky competition this season, and Haupt (.511), Franz (.414) and Stidham (.377) are each hitting better than .375 vs. conference opposition. Sacramento State has not been challenged in any game against a Big Sky opponent since defeating Northern Colorado in the first game by a 30-26 score on Sept. 22.

Sacramento State will now return home for four consecutive home matches, beginning with a non-conference tilt against Santa Clara on Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. The Hornets will also play Portland State (Friday, Oct. 12) and Eastern Washington (Saturday, Oct. 13) at home next week. Portland State is 13-4 overall and 7-0 in the Big Sky.