Senior Jayme Wright |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sophomore Sandra Bandimere tallied a match-high 16 kills and senior Jayme Wright added 15 kills and 13 digs as Sacramento State upset 15th-ranked Eastern Washington, 3-0 (30-18, 30-28, 30-25), in a Big Sky Conference volleyball match Saturday evening in Hornet Gym.The loss was the first of the season for Eastern Washington as the Eagles entered the week one of just four unbeaten Div. I teams in the nation. The Eagles, who have now lost six-consecutive regular-season matches to Sacramento State in Hornet Gym, fell to 20-1 overall and 6-1 in the Big Sky. Sacramento State won its third in a row and seven of its last nine while improving to 16-7 overall and 6-1 in the conference. The Hornets, who have won five-consecutive Big Sky regular season championships, also pulled into a tie for first place with Eastern Washington in the conference standings.
With the victory, Sacramento State defeated its second-highest ranked opponent in program history (the Hornets beat then No. 13 Pacific at home in 1997). The Eagles had lost just eight games all season long until being swept tonight.
“The team raised its level of play and put it all together tonight,” Sacramento State head coach Debby Colberg said. “They were determined to win this match and they showed a lot of character. Tonight was a big step for us tonight in terms of maturing as a team.”
Sacramento State hit a season-high .368 as three Hornets hit above .400 including junior Lisa Beauchene (eight kills, .533), sophomore Emily Wilson (five kills, .444) and Bandimere (.433 including just three errors in 30 attacks). Beauchene narrowly missed her fourth triple-double of the season despite the match lasting just three games as the setter finished with eight kills, 38 assists and 10 digs. Junior Kazmiera Imrie added eight kills and a match-high 14 digs. The Hornets hit at least .278 in every game, including a .378 mark in game one and a .432 mark in the second frame.
Wright’s double-double was her ninth of the season as the outside hitter has combined for 32 kills over her last two matches. Sacramento State led Eastern Washington in virtually every statistical category including digs (54-44), team blocks (7.0-4.0), kills (55-51) and hitting percentage (.368-.214).
Eastern Washington was led by Janelle Ruen’s 14 kills and 13 digs while Kristy Chester and Andrea Verdoljak each finished with 10 digs.
Sacramento State improved to 4-0 at home against conference competition as the team has also defeated Idaho State, Weber State and Portland State. In regular season play, the Hornets are now 46-5 against Big Sky competition at home since joining the conference in 1996.
Sacramento State returns to action next week on the road against Weber State (Friday, Oct. 25) and Idaho State (Saturday, Oct. 26). The Hornets close out their home portion of the schedule with a four-match homestand Nov. 1-9.
