ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – UC Santa Barbara’s Charlene DeHoog’s 18 kills led all players as the Gauchos defeated Sacramento State, 3-1 (25-18, 25-18, 23-25, 25-13), in the second round of the Comcast Volleyball Challenge Friday evening at the Johnson Center.
With the loss, Sacramento State (5-5 overall) dropped to 0-2 at the two-day tournament and will conclude play tomorrow against SMU at 11 a.m. PDT. The Hornets lost in the first round to tournament to host New Mexico earlier today by the score of 3-1.
UC Santa Barbara, which fell to SMU this morning, improved to 4-4 overall and 1-1 at the tournament. The Hornets and Gauchos were facing each other for just the second time ever, and first time since a 2-0 UC Santa Barbara win in 1985.
Of the Hornets’ five losses this season, two have come in five sets, two in four sets and once in three sets.
For UC Santa Barbara, DeHoog (18), Kasey Kipp (15), Kara Sherrard (10) and Stacey Schmidt (9) combined for 52 of the team’s 59 kills. The Gauchos tallied 88 digs, which included five players in double figures.
For the second straight match, Sacramento State struggled with its hitting efficiency, recording just a .097 hitting percentage. The Hornets were led by junior Eryn Kirby’s 16 kills, as she now has at least 16 in four straight matches. Sophomore Janelle Currey added 11 kills and 17 digs.
Junior libero Breanne Menees continued her torrid pace as she finished with 32 digs. The 32 digs were 14 more than any other player on the floor, and she now has at least 20 digs in seven of 10 matches this season. Olivia Moss added a team-best five blocks while Kirby and Sydney Kordic each had 11 digs. Kelsey Elston recorded eight kills, a .278 hitting percentage and three blocks.
This week’s tournament began a stretch of nine consecutive matches away from home for Sacramento State. That includes the volleyball version of the Causeway Classic on Tuesday, Sept. 14, at UC Davis. The Hornets do not return home until Oct.1.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – UC Santa Barbara’s Charlene DeHoog’s 18 kills led all players as the Gauchos defeated Sacramento State, 3-1 (25-18, 25-18, 23-25, 25-13), in the second round of the Comcast Volleyball Challenge Friday evening at the Johnson Center.
