Issue date: 10/31/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Claire Padgett Coach Ruben Volta talking with Senior Rose Burke on Friday. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Claire Padgett Senior Brittany Ferguson blocks for Sacramento in Friday night's game against Northern Colorado. [Click to enlarge]

The Hornet Volleyball team fought hard on Friday night in a defeat to the Northern Colorado Bears. The Bears will hold on to a first place lead in the Big Sky conference after their victory on Colberg court. The loss leaves Sacramento State tied for fourth with Montana.

The Hornets started out the night by losing the first two games in the match. The Bears came out strong winning the first game 25-20. Things fell apart for Sacramento in the second game; the Hornets managed 10 kills to the Bear's 15. The Bears won the game 25-18.

Sacramento State took control of the third game. They came out fighting and didn't let up. The final score was 25-16, in favor of the Hornets.

The fourth game was a back and fourth battle between the two teams. The Bears took an early lead. Sacramento scored the first point but Colorado took control and earned six consecutive points before the Hornets regained the serve. Colorado held onto the lead up until half-way through the game. With a seven point deficit the Hornets fought back from a 14-7 score in the Bear's favor to finally tie at 23-23. The game went into extra points with Hornets winning 26-24.

The final game was a decisive win for the Bears. The Hornets scored the first point but never regained the lead. The game was tied at 1-1, 5-5, 7-7 and 8-8; after that the Bears took control of the game with a final score of 15-9.

After the game Coach Ruben Volta gave some credit to the Bears,

"They passed well, played well in defense, they played a really solid match."

The match was an important one in the Big Sky Conference.

"It was pretty important," Coach Volta said. "I've been just trying to take it match by match."

Junior, Desiree Hoyum plays Outside Hitter for the Hornets. She remained optimistic after the match.

"The win would have put us in a great position because it was a number one team," she said. "Nothing is impossible though. We'll meet up with them again in the [Big Sky] Tournament."

Senior, Brittany Ferguson, an Opposite for the Hornets, said that her team needed to work on consistency.

"We need to refocus and remember how hard we have to play…"

The Hornets face the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks Saturday night at 7 p.m.

Amy Lewis can be reached at alewis@statehornet.com

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