VOLLEYBALL LOSES HEARTBREAKER IN FIVE SETS TO SAINT MARY’S

9/6/2008

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sacramento State nearly overcame a two-set deficit, but fell short in a 3-2 loss to Saint Mary’s (25-20, 25-16, 22-25, 23-25, 15-13) in the third and final round of the Sacramento State Volleyball Invitational Saturday evening at Colberg Court.

By virtue of posting a perfect 3-0 record, Saint Mary’s was crowned champions of the tournament, which the Hornets were hosting for the sixth consecutive year. Cal State Northridge finished with a 2-1 record, San Jose State went 1-2 and Sacramento State finished 0-3.

The Hornets, who are fielding their youngest team in recent memory after losing seven players, including four starters from last year’s squad, dropped to 2-5 overall this season. The team’s three-match losing streak is the longest since the beginning of the 2005 season.

Saint Mary’s (6-0 overall this season) defeated San Jose State in four sets yesterday and swept Cal State Northridge earlier today prior to the five-set victory over the Hornets. With the win, the Gaels improved to 7-27 all-time against Sacramento State.

After allowing Saint Mary’s to hit .486 and .455 in the first two sets of the match, respectively, Sacramento State bounced back to win the next two games as the team’s offense and defense both improved dramatically.

In the fifth set, no team led by more than three points the entire way as Sacramento State jumped out to a 4-1 lead. However, Saint Mary’s quickly responded with a 4-1 run to tie the score at 5-5. The Gaels never trailed the rest of the way as the two teams exchanged points until a kill from Taylor Groess gave SMC a 14-12 lead. A kill from Hornet freshman Eryn Kirby got Sacramento State back within, 14-13, but a Hornet attack error ended things at 15-13.

Saint Mary’s Shannon Lowell led all players in the fifth set with four kills and an .800 hitting percentage.

The Gaels had five players finish with double figures in kills during the match, comprised of Megan York (17), Groess (14), Chanteal Satele (12), Brittany Barker (11) and Shannon Lowell (10). The Gaels hit .325 a as a team, led by Lowell’s .421 hitting percentage.

For Sacramento State, senior Brittany Ferguson led all players with a career-high 19 kills while senior Desiree Hoyum finished with 18 kills (and a .361 hitting percentage) and Kirby (11 kills, 13 digs) posted the first double-double of her intercollegiate career. Sophomore Maddison Thivierge added nine kills and three blocks, and senior setter Rose Burke had four kills, a .400 hitting percentage, 51 assists, 12 digs and two blocks.

Freshman outside hitter Cayti Crowton did not play in either match today because of an injury.

Sacramento State does not return home again until Friday, Oct. 3. The Hornets will play nine straight matches away from Sacramento, beginning next week when the team competes at the USF Invitational. The Hornets will play tournament host San Francisco on Friday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m., followed by matches on Saturday against both Miami (1 p.m.) and Villanova (5 p.m.).

SACRAMENTO STATE INVITATIONAL RECAP

FINAL RECORDS
Saint Mary’s  3-0
Cal State Northridge  2-1
San Jose State  1-2
Sacramento State  0-3

FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Saint Mary’s 3, San Jose State 1 (25-22, 25-22, 22-25, 25-17)
Cal State Northridge 3, Sacramento State 0 (25-20, 25-12, 26-24)

SATURDAY’S RESULTS
Saint Mary’s 3, Cal State Northridge 0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-20)
San Jose State 3, Sacramento State 1 (25-18, 20-25, 25-21, 25-18)
Cal State Northridge 3, San Jose State 2 (29-27, 16-25, 25-27, 25-23, 17-15)
Saint Mary’s 3, Sacramento State 2 (25-20, 25-16, 22-25, 23-25, 15-13)

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Megan York - Saint Mary’s - MVP
Kapua Komana’o - Saint Mary’s
Shannon Lowell - Saint Mary’s
Taylor Groess - Saint Mary’s
Lynda Morales - Cal State Northridge
Angela Hupp - Cal State Northridge
Emily Burke - San Jose State

ATTENDANCE
Friday – 535
Saturday - 458