Hornets sweep Grizzlies in Sacramento

Thursday, November 11

Sacramento, Calf.

8 PM (MT)

Montana

11-14, 6-9Big Sky

Sacramento State

15-11, 9-6Big Sky

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Montana	18	15	19	0
Sacramento State	25	25	25	3

Carly Anderson at Sacramento State - 11/11/21

11/11/2021 9:53:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Montana Sports Information

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – In an October match in Missoula, Montana held Sacramento State to .184 hitting in a three-set sweep over the visiting Hornets.

The Grizzlies are a better team today than they were that night in mid-October, but so, too is Sacramento State, which has now won seven of its past eight matches and has swept its past seven opponents on its home court – winning 21 consecutive sets at The Nest.

That held true on Thursday night, as Sacramento State avenged its three-set loss in Missoula with a three-set victory over the visiting Grizzlies.

"From the beginning, it felt like we weren't able to get them out of system enough to force them into one-off situations," head coach Allison Lawrence said. "When they're able to pass and dig in situations where their setter is at the net, their middles were able to go off and then that opened up some seams for their pins."

Montana had no answer for the Hornets' attacking, as they hit .346 as a team, including .324 or better in all three sets.

Sophomore outside hitter Bridgette Smith, who leads the Big Sky for kills, led her team with 13 kills on .406 hitting. The bigger problem was middle blocker Cianna Andrews, who was nearly perfect with 10 kills on 11 swings for a .909 hitting percentage.

"We weren't even able to slow her down with touches," Lawrence said. "She was incredibly terminal."

It was a stark comparison from the last meeting, when Montana held Andrews in check with six kills compared to four errors – numbers far below her season averages.

While Montana struggled on the defensive end, it also couldn't get going offensively.

The Grizzlies hit .216 in the opening set, but never held a lead in a 25-18 defeat. They hit .082 over the next two sets combined, totaling just 21 kills compared to 15 errors.

Montana was led by its senior middle blocker Peyten Boutwell, who had eight kills on .500 hitting, to go along with a pair of blocks. Junior right-side attacker Catie Semadeni had seven kills on .316 hitting, while sophomore middle blocker Ellie Scherffius finished with seven kills and a block.

Freshman Paige Clark, who has led the Big Sky for kills and points over the past five weeks – since she switched from setter to outside hitter – was held to just five kills on -.111 hitting, her lowest kill total as a full-time attacker.

"We weren't able to score on our first swings frequently enough, and when we got in long rallies, ultimately, it felt like they had control in those moments."

Junior Jackie Howell led Montana's floor defense with 13 digs, followed by senior libero Sarina Moreno, with 10.

A Carly Anderson dump kill brought the Grizzlies within two points in the first set, 12-10, but Sacramento State got back-to-back blocks during a 3-0 run to widen the gap. Sacramento State scored the first three points of the second set and never trailed.

Montana's best set was the third, holding brief leads at 14-13, 15-14 and 16-15, despite falling in a 4-0 hole to start the set. The Grizzlies' first lead of the night came with Elsa Godwin at the service line, with the senior recording an ace to knot the score at 14-14 before going on top with a block from Boutwell and Howell.

Following Montana's 17-16 lead, though, Sacramento State scored the next six points to put the set out of reach.

Montana will close the regular season on Saturday evening at Portland State (8 p.m. MT), a team that entered the week tied for first place. The Grizzlies have already locked up a Big Sky tournament spot, but will look to use Saturday as momentum heading into the postseason tournament.

"We knew this weekend would be a challenge, but ultimately, we're trying to see how good we can become between tonight, Saturday and next Thursday," Lawrence said. "Sac pushed us to need to find another gear, and ultimately, I think that's going to help us arrive at the conference tournament feeling confident and still playing our best volleyball."