SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento State limited Montana to a .098 hitting percentage and senior Kazmiera Imrie led all players with 11 kills as the Hornet volleyball team defeated the Grizzlies, 3-0 (30-18, 30-28, 30-17), in a Big Sky Conference match Saturday afternoon at the Hornets Nest.Montana’s hitting percentage of .098 marked the second-straight match in which the Hornets have limited an opponent to a hitting percentage below .100 and the fourth time this season. In addition, Sacramento State’s 68 digs were the second-highest total in a three-game match this season (the Hornets tallied 73 against Eastern Illinois).
With the victory, Sacramento State runs its record to 3-0 in the Big Sky and 11-7 overall. The Hornets, who have now won 29-consecutive regular-season conference matches at home, have won six of their last seven matches after beginning the season 5-6. Montana dropped to 6-10 overall and 1-3 in the Big Sky.
Imrie’s 11 kills accompanied a .474 hitting percentage as the senior co-captain has now hit at least .300 in a team-best nine-straight matches. Sacramento State hit .341 during the match with five Hornets hitting better than .400 comprising Imrie, junior Emily Wilson (nine kills, .474), sophomore Shannon Arts (three kills, .500), senior Lisa Beauchene (three kills, .429) and freshman Leah Klemenhagen (three kills, .750).
Wilson also had a match-high six total blocks, including a career-high four solo blocks. Montana, which finished the match with zero team blocks, was dominated in nearly every statistical category including kills (53-39), digs (68-52), team blocks (9-0) and hitting percentage (.341-.098).
Sacramento State junior Sandra Bandimere finished with a career-high 19 digs, tying her for the team lead with freshman Kristin Lutes. Bandimere just missed her sixth double-double of the season as she finished with nine kills as well. Junior setter Stephanie Gamst, who played the entire second game in place of Beauchene, finished with a team-best 20 assists.
Montana was led by Audrey Jensen’s nine kills while Lizzie Wertz recorded eight kills and team-high 14 digs.
The Hornets conclude their season-long five-match homestand on Tuesday, Oct. 7, as they take on Nevada at 7 p.m. Sacramento State concludes the week with Big Sky road matches against Portland State (Friday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m.) and Eastern Washington (Sunday, Oct. 12, at 3 p.m.). The match against Eastern Washington will be broadcast live on the College Sports Television Network (CSTV) on DirecTV, channel 610.
