Sandra Bandimere |
LOS ANGELES – The Sacramento State volleyball team concluded the LMU Furama Hotel Invitational Saturday by splitting the final two matches of the tournament. The Hornets defeated UNLV, 3-0 (31-29, 30-21, 30-25), before falling to host Loyola Marymount, 3-0 (30-20, 30-17, 30-22) later in the day.With the split, Sacramento State concluded the tournament with a 1-2 record as it fell to West Virginia yesterday. Loyola Marymount was crowned champions of the tournament by virtue of its 3-0 record. Seniors Lisa Beauchene and Kazmiera Imrie represented Sacramento State on the all-tournament team. West Virginia and UNLV also finished with 1-2 records as the tournament was the season-opening games for all four teams.
In the Hornets’ win over UNLV, Sacramento State held the advantage over the Rebels in hitting percentage (.339-.193), aces (7-4), team blocks (6-2) and digs (53-52). The Hornets committed just nine errors during the entire match as Imrie (match-high 15 kills, .536), junior Sandra Bandimere (10 kills, .381), sophomore Shannon Arts (seven kills, .500) and Beauchene (nine kills, .615) all hit at least .300 in the match.
UNLV was led by Michelle Johnson (12 kills), Sheila Ocasio-Clemente (10 kills) and Michelle Banks (seven kills and 10 digs). The Hornets have now beaten the Rebels in consecutive seasons as Sacramento State posted a 3-2 victory last year.
Against Loyola Marymount, the Lions dominated in virtually every statistical category including kills (50-29), hitting percentage (.243-.031), assists (42-24), digs (64-55) and service aces (5-1).
No Hornet finished in double-figure kills as Bandimere had a team-high nine. Beauchene finished with team highs in assists (22) and digs (15). Arts was the only player to hit above .200 as she finished with three kills and a .273 mark.
Loyola Marymount had three players finish in double-figure kills comprising Kelli Nerison (14), Dina DeBernardi (12) and Kealani Kimball (11). Kimball also had a match-high 23 digs while Sandy Krone chipped in 11.
Sacramento State never hit above .143 in any game, including a -.063 mark in the third frame.
The Hornets return to action next week as they serve host to the five-team Sacramento State Invitational on Friday-Saturday, Sept. 5-6. The Hornets play twice on Friday against UC Riverside (2 p.m.) and Fresno State (7:30 p.m.) before closing the tournament Saturday against Georgetown (2 p.m.) and Oregon State (7:30 p.m.).
