SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Santa Clara’s Kayla Lommori had a match-high 16 kills, including 10 in the third set, to help the Broncos to a three-set sweep (25-20, 26-24, 30-28) of Sacramento State in a non-conference volleyball match Wednesday evening at Colberg Court.
The match served as the home opener for Sacramento State (2-2) which continues to play without the services of two probable starters (middle hitter Maddison Thivierge and setter Hannah Hettinga). Santa Clara, which is receiving votes in the AVCA top 25 poll, won its third straight while improving to 3-1 overall. In addition, the Broncos have now won 12 of the last 13 meetings between the two teams and improved to 18-11 all-time against the Hornets.
Sacramento State had its chances in both the second and third sets, but could not overcome a Santa Clara offensive attack that finished with 12 more kills (50-38). The Broncos also hit better (.197-.164), and had more assists (42-37) and digs (70-63) than Sacramento State.
Although the Hornets kept things close in both the second and third sets, they never had a set point in either frame. In fact, Sacramento State saved a combined six set points (one in the second set, five in the third) before Santa Clara was finally able to pull out the victory. The Hornets did not help themselves with 11 service errors, including two costly errors late in the third frame.
Lommori had just six kills through the first two frames before tallying 10 of the team’s 19 kills in the third set. Joining Lommori with double figures in kills for Santa Clara was Kaleigh Durket (13 kills, match-high tying five blocks). Emily Burke (five kills, .625 hitting percentage) and Tanya Schmidt (six kills, .353 hitting percentage) were the only Santa Clara players to hit better than .222 during the match. Bridget O’Hara led all players with 24 digs.
Sacramento State sophomore Janelle Currey led the Hornets in kills for the fourth-straight match, finishing with 15 kills, 10 digs and a career-high five blocks. Currey has now recorded a double-double (kills and digs) in all four matches as well. Junior Kelsey Elston added eight kills, four blocks and a .421 hitting percentage (8-0-19). Sacramento State finished with 12.0 team blocks, as four different Hornets tallied at least four blocks (Eryn Kirby 5, Olivia Moss 4).
Hornet freshman Kayla Beal sparkled for the second straight match, finishing with seven kills, seven digs and a .462 hitting percentage (7-1-13). Sacramento State had three players finish with double figures in digs, comprised of Breanne Menees (16), Katie Aprile (12) and Currey. Sophomore defensive specialist Sydney Kordic, who was forced to play at outside hitter late in the third frame because the Hornets were low on substitutions, had nine digs. Many of those digs from Kordic were full-out dives and sprawls during an intense final portion of the third set that included long rallies and gutty plays by both teams.
Tonight was the first of a season-long five-match homestand. The Hornets will next host the Sacramento State Invitational this Friday-Saturday, Sept. 3-4. The team will play three matches during the tournament, beginning on Friday against UTSA at 7:30 p.m. For complete tournament information and schedule, click here.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Santa Clara’s Kayla Lommori had a match-high 16 kills, including 10 in the third set, to help the Broncos to a three-set sweep (25-20, 26-24, 30-28) of Sacramento State in a non-conference volleyball match Wednesday evening at Colberg Court.
