VOLLEYBALL OPENS AGGIE INVITE WITH LOSS TO FORDHAM
9/19/2008
DAVIS, Calif. -- Despite a match-high 12 kills from Sacramento State’s Brittany Ferguson, Fordham hit .326 and committed just nine errors the entire match on the way to a three-set sweep (25-18, 25-20, 25-19) of the Hornets in the first round of the Aggie Invite Friday evening at The Pavilion.
With the victory, Fordham, who was playing Sacramento State for the first time ever, improved to 9-4 overall and 1-0 at the tournament. Sacramento State dropped to 0-1 at the tournament and 2-10 overall this season. The Hornets will play twice more tomorrow at the two-day, three-match tournament, which includes matches against Cal State Bakersfield (10 a.m.) and tournament host UC Davis (7 p.m.).
Sacramento State’s 2-10 record and the team’s current eight-match losing streak are the worst marks in school history. The Hornets are winless in the month of September and have not won a match since defeating Louisiana-Monroe on Aug. 30. The team is at the midway point of a stretch of nine-consecutive matches away from home. In fact, the Hornets will go almost an entire month without playing at home, with the last competition in Sacramento coming on Sept. 6 against Saint Mary’s, and the next home match taking place Oct. 3 vs. Idaho State.
The Hornets lost nearly their entire starting lineup (both outside hitters, both middle hitters and the libero) from last season, which included arguably the best senior class in school history. Those losses include all three of the team’s primary passers, a part of the game the team has struggled to find consistency in this season.
Fordham had 38 kills compared to just nine errors in 89 total attacks, as four different starters hit better than .350. Conversely, Sacramento State committed 24 errors and hit just .105. The Rams had little trouble with the Hornets throughout the evening as Sacramento State’s largest lead was 14-11 in the second set. Fordham had five players register at least six kills, including Christi Griffiths who finished with eight kills, four blocks and a .412 hitting percentage.
Ferguson was the lone bright spot for Sacramento State as she hit .579, committing just one error in 19 attacks. The fourth-year senior was the only Hornet with more than eight kills, and was one of just two Hornets (Rose Burke .250) to hit better than .170.
In tonight’s other match, Cal State Bakersfield defeated UC Davis, 3-1 (25-18, 25-11, 22-25, 25-22). When Sacramento State and UC Davis play tomorrow night, it will continue a long-standing rivalry that has seen the Hornets post a 48-16 all-time record against the Aggies, including 12 straight wins dating back to 1993.
DAVIS, Calif. -- Despite a match-high 12 kills from Sacramento State’s 
