VOLLEYBALL SWEEPES IDAHO STATE! PLAY FOR THE BIG SKY TOURNAMENT TITLE ON FRIDAY AT 7:00 PM

SACRAMENTO – Sacramento State had 13 aces and used the service line effectively to fend off Idaho State’s offensive attack en route to a three-set victory over the Bengals, 25-19, 25-15, 25-23 in the Big Sky Conference semifinals tournament on Thursday evening in the Nest.

The Hornets (20-11) host Northern Colorado (25-6) in the Big Sky championship game on Friday at 7 p.m. The winner of tomorrow’s game will automatically receive a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Hornets are making their first title game appearance since 2017 and are seeking their first trip to the Big Dance since 2007. The Hornets are 9-3 in their last 12 Big Sky Tournament title game appearances.

Northern Colorado, the top seed, needed five sets to beat Weber State in today’s other semifinal. The Bears also need five sets to beat Montana State in the quarterfinals yesterday. Sacramento State, the No. 3 seed, will host this year’s postseason event by virtue of winning the Big Sky title last season.

Sacramento State opened the tournament yesterday with a four-set win over No. 6 seed Portland State. Today’s win came against a No. 2 seed Idaho State team (21-9) that had beaten the Hornets in both regular season meetings this year.

The Hornets dominated the Bengals at the service line, finishing the game with 13 aces in just three sets (4.3 per set). They also had repeated serves that resulted in free balls back to Sacramento State’s side. Setter started things off Kate Doornwho had five aces and seemed to score multiple points every time she stepped onto the service line. Also belonged to the ace brigade Caitlin Volkman (3), Bridgette Smith (2), Mia Guevara (2) and Ellie Tisko (1).

Idaho State had a .172 batting average and just 30 kills. No ISU player had more than eight kills. In contrast, the Hornets tallied 43 kills, hit .282 and took control of the first and second sets with runs midway through the set. In the third round, with the score tied at 23-23, the Hornets secured the victory with a kill from Tisko and an ISU attack error (on a great Smith serve). Sacramento State is now 28-14 all-time in the Big Sky Tournament, including nine tournament titles (1997-98, 2000, 2002-07).

The Hornets were led by Smith with 17 kills, and no player on either team had more than nine. The veteran outside hitter, one of the greatest players in program history, also posted a .317 batting average with two aces, 10 digs and her 14th double-double.

Volkmann had eight kills, nine digs, two blocks and three aces, ending her streak of eight straight matches with double-digit kills. Ashlynn Archer recorded nine kills, four blocks and a .444 hitting percentage, accounting for just one error in 18 swings.

Skyler Gartin had four kills, two blocks and a .375 batting average, Tisko had five kills, four digs and four blocks and Doorn had 23 assists to go with her five aces. Hailey Plugge finished the game with 10 assists and five digs.

Sacramento State improved to 11-2 at home this season. The Hornets and Northern Colorado split their regular season meetings, with each team winning on the road.