VOLLEYBALL BEATS WEBER STATE, IMPROVES TO 3-1 IN CONFERENCE

10/1/2011

Sacramento State won its third straight match while improving to 3-1 in conference

OGDEN, Utah -- Sacramento State senior Eryn Kirby led all players with 20 kills and Weber State was held to a negative hitting percentage (-.059) as the Hornets beat the Wildcats in four sets (25-20, 21-25, 25-18, 25-12) in a Big Sky Conference volleyball match Saturday evening at Swenson Gym.

Amazingly, the Wildcats hit for negative percentage in all four sets as the team’s hitting percentage was the lowest by a Hornet opponent since Montana State hit -.060 on Oct. 6, 2007. In fact, six different Weber State players hit for negative percentages and only one (with more than one kill) hit better than .000.

With the victory, Sacramento State wins its third straight match while improving to 8-9 overall and 3-1 in the conference. The winning streak is the longest of the season for the Hornets, and the longest since a four-match streak in early October of last season. Coupled with last night’s 3-2 win over Idaho State in Pocatello, Sacramento State swept its first Big Sky road trip since defeating Idaho State and Weber State on Oct. 9-10, 2009. The Hornets are now 2-0 on the road in Big Sky matches after going 1-7 in conference road matchups last year.

Sacramento State won the first, third and fourth sets with relative ease, and held a commanding 19-7 lead in the second set. However, Weber State would close the second frame on a ridiculous 18-2 run to claim the second set.

The Hornets, who are now 8-0 when limiting the opposition to a hitting percentage below .165, didn’t hit much better than Weber State (.072), but held a commanding edge over the Wildcats in kills (45-26), assists (43-24) and digs (69-58). Weber State accumulated a lofty 20.5 team blocks, but had eight more hitting errors (34) than total attacks (26).

Kirby’s 20 kills were 11 more than any other player on the floor as the outside hitter also finished with 13 digs and two blocks. She has now tallied double-figure kills in five straight matches and double-doubles (kills and digs) in three of the last four matches.

Middle hitter Kelsey Elston capped an impressive week with eight kills, three blocks and a  match-best .412 hitting percentage. Elston, who has a legitimate chance of landing Big Sky Player of the Week honors, has now hit better than .410 in three straight matches and is hitting .398 against conference teams.

Hornet outside hitter Janelle Currey had nine kills, 16 digs and a career-high tying four service aces, setter Hannah Hettinga had 16 assists and a career-high three aces, and libero Breanne Menees led all players with 19 digs. As a team, the Hornets finished with nine aces compared to just six errors. Defensive specialist Sydney Kordic (11) rounded out the four Sacramento State players with double figures in digs.

For Weber State, Mackenzie Clark had nine kills, seven blocks and a team-best .231 hitting percentage while Briana Wilms (9) and Emily Jones (8) both posted lofty block totals.

Sacramento State will conclude its three-match road trip Tuesday at San Jose State (7 p.m.) before returning home to face conference foes Portland State (Friday at 7 p.m.) and Eastern Washington (Saturday at 7 p.m.) next week.