Junior Lisa Beauchene |
FRESNO, Calif. – Four Hornets finished with double figures in kills, led by junior Lisa Beauchene’s fifth career triple-double (10 kills, 50 assists, 15 digs), as the Sacramento State volleyball team defeated UNLV, 3-2 (30-26, 28-30, 23-30, 30-20, 15-11), in the first round of the Fresno State Quadrangular Friday evening at North Gym. Sacramento State, which plays both San Diego and host Fresno State in the second round of the tournament tomorrow, improved its record to 9-3. The Hornets have now won each of their last two matches and nine of their last 11 overall. UNLV dropped to 4-7 with the loss.
Beauchene’s triple double was her second of the season as the team captain fell just short of a quadruple-double, finishing with seven blocks. She also tallied a match-high .643 hitting percentage, committing just one error in 14 total attacks. Not only did the Hornets have four players finish with double figures in kills, but five finished with double digits in digs. Senior Jayme Wright (match-high 20 kills, 10 digs), junior Kazmiera Imrie (15 kills, eight blocks), sophomore Sandra Bandimere (14 kills), senior Loretta Coffman (11 digs), junior Ali Mathewson (10 digs) and junior Olivia Thomas (match-high 20 digs) also played impressively for the Hornets.
Sacramento State is now 2-1 in five-game matches this year after winning just two five-gamers all of last season. The Hornets tallied season highs in kills (73) and assists (66), and led UNLV in almost every category including kills (73-64), hitting percentage (.234-.160), assists (66-57), digs (84-76) and team blocks (14.0-13.5). The Hornets held the Rebels to a hitting percentage below .163 in every game but the third.
UNLV was paced by Patricia Assuncao (17 kills, 10 digs), Leiana Oswald (16 kills, 15 digs), Tarin Keith (13 kills, 15 digs) and Blair Wilkes (10 kills). The Rebels have now dropped three-straight matches since defeating Wisconsin-Milwaukee a week ago.
Tomorrow’s tournament schedule features Sacramento State playing San Diego at 11 a.m. and Fresno State at 7:30 p.m.
NOTES -- Wright’s 20 kills was a season high, five short of her career high (25) set against Saint Mary’s in 2000...with eight blocks, Imrie has now led or tied for the team lead in blocks in seven-consecutive matches...sophomore Natalie Melcher recorded her first kill in a Sacramento State uniform...Beauchene has hit at least .400 in six-consecutive matches and is hitting .494 (47-5-85) over that span.
