VOLLEYBALL ROLLS PAST SAN JOSE STATE, IMPROVES RECORD TO 5-3

9/7/2010

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento State junior Eryn Kirby had a match-high 16 kills and a career-high .500 hitting percentage (16-2-28) to lead the Hornets to a three-set sweep (25-20, 25-15, 25-17) of San Jose State in a non-conference volleyball match Tuesday evening at Colberg Court.

Fresh off their Sacramento State Invitational championship over the weekend, the Hornets (5-3) continued to play well, winning their third straight. Tonight’s win wrapped up the Hornets’ season-long five-match homestand as the team will play its next nine matches away from home and will not return to the friendly confines again until Oct. 1.

With the loss, San Jose State dropped to 1-6 overall and 6-7 all-time against Sacramento State in a series which dates back to 1978.

The Hornets served tought all night, flustering San Jose State’s passers and effectively keeping the Spartans from running a crisp offense. In fact, Sacramento State finished with 10 service aces compared to just four errors. Six different Hornets had at least one ace, including three each from sophomore Janelle Currey and junior Breanne Menees.

“Simply put, we’ve been playing consistent over the last few matches,” Sacramento State head coach Ruben Volta said. “The three things we really stress – serving, passing and defense – have been very consistent lately and we’ve gotten on a bit of a roll.”

Sacramento State hit a season-high .378 (42-8-90), which included no errors in the first set. In fact, the team’s hitting percentage is the best mark since the Hornets posted a .394 (55-14-104) mark at home against Eastern Washington on Nov. 23, 2007. Sacramento State led the entire way in the first and second sets, and San Jose State’s largest lead was 4-3 in the third frame.

Kirby was the only Hornet to record double figures in kills and the 16 were two shy of her career high, set this past Saturday against Cal State Northridge. Currey’s run of recording at least 10 kills in every match this season came to an end after the co-captain finished with eight, including a .292 hitting percentage and match-best 15 digs. Menees (13) joined Currey as the only players to tally double-figure digs in the match.

Junior Cayti Crowton added five kills, junior Kelsey Elston had four kills, freshman Katie Aprile had 22 assists and six digs, and junior Anna Schoener tallied three kills, 10 assists, two blocks and a .500 hitting percentage. Freshman outside hitter Emily Kiser recorded her first kills of the season after finishing with three.

San Jose State was led by Hanah Blume’s 11 kills while Sarah Griest had five kills and a .556 hitting percentage.

Sacramento State will travel to Albuquerque, N.M., to take part in the two-day, three-match Comcast Challenge this Friday and Saturday. The Hornets will play host New Mexico (12 p.m. PDT) and UC Santa Barbara (4:15 p.m. PDT) on Friday, and SMU on Saturday at 11 a.m. PDT.