VOLLEYBALL OPENS BIG SKY SEASON WITH 3-1 LOSS AT NORTHERN COLORADO

9/23/2010

GREELEY, Colo. -- Despite a season-high tying 23 kills from sophomore Janelle Currey, Sacramento State could not overcome a .136 team hitting percentage on the way to a 3-1 loss to Northern Colorado (25-27, 25-21, 25-18, 25-23) in the Hornets’ Big Sky Conference volleyball opener Thursday evening at the Butler-Hancock Pavilion.

Sacramento State (7-9, 0-1) continued to struggle against the Bears, as the Hornets have now lost to Northern Colorado on seven straight occasions dating back to 2007. That is the second longest active losing streak against any team for the Hornets, trailing only 10 straight losses to Stanford. Prior to the loss, the Hornets had been 12-2 in their conference openers since joining the league in 1996.

Northern Colorado (12-3, 3-0), which is the defending Big Sky Tournament champions, won for the 12th time in its last 13 matches. In addition, the Bears won their 11th straight match at home dating back to last season.

Currey was dominant for Sacramento State as her 23 kills came with a .264 hitting percentage, one ace, 14 digs and two blocks. However, freshman rightside hitter Kayla Beal (nine kills, .217) was the only other Hornet to hit better than .125 as Sacramento State continued an alarming trend of failing to hit with any kind of efficiency. Tonight marked the eighth consecutive match the Hornets have finished with a hitting percentage below .150 and the team is 2-6 over that span.

The Hornets’ .136 hitting percentage came with 46 kills and 25 errors in 154 attacks. Currey (53) took nearly 35 percent of the team’s swings, and her 23 kills were nine more than any other player from either team. Sacramento State was able to keep the match close with 11.5 team blocks, including six from junior Kelsey Elston, and four from both sophomore Olivia Moss and Beal. The Hornets had four players tally at least eight digs, comprised of junior Breanne Menees (16), Currey (14), junior Eryn Kirby (9) and sophomore Sydney Kordic (8).

Northern Colorado didn’t hit much better (.170), but had nine more kills (55-46) and 17 more digs (77-60) than Sacramento State. The Bears also had nine service aces, including two from four different players. Julie Stephenson (14 kills, 14 digs) and Kelley Arnold (14 kills, 15 digs) led the way for a Northern Colorado squad that saw none of its players hit better than .268. Amanda Arterburn led all players with 19 digs.

Trailing by one set (2-1), Sacramento State had a chance to force a fifth set after taking a 21-19 lead late in the fourth frame. However, Northern Colorado finished the set and match on a 6-2 run aided by a pair of Hornet attack errors. Arnold had kills at 20-21, 21-21 and 22-22 during the set.

Sacramento State concludes its long road trip by playing its ninth straight match away from home this Saturday, Sept. 25, when the team plays at Northern Arizona at 7:05 p.m. PDT. The match can be watched free via video stream on Big Sky TV, and the contest will be televised live on the Universityhouse channel (Dish Network, channel 9411). In addition, live audio of the NAU match can be accessed via www.hornetsports.com with J.D. Fox calling the action.