Oct. 12, 2005

Box Score

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Freshman libero Nichole Brown recorded a career-high 33 digs to highlight the Aggies' defense but Sacramento State completed the three-game sweep over UC Davis, winning 30-25, 30-24, 30-21, in a women's collegiate volleyball match at the Hornets' Nest Wednesday evening.

The Aggies fall to 3-17 for the year. Sacramento State improves to 15-7 overall.

Junior Atlee Hubbard recorded a match-high 14 kills and with 13 digs was one of five Hornets in double figures on floor defense. Michelle Franz and Lindsay Haupt each added 10 kills and five block assists for Sacramento State.

Brown's digs total represents a UC Davis record for a three-game match, and is just two shy of Mary McClelland's 2004 school mark. Junior Nicole Read added 11 kills and six digs while middle blocker Katie Wilson had six kills and four blocks for the Aggies.

"Nichole's contribtuions were big because Sacramento State counts on their opposite and their two middles, so if you contain their outsides, you can stay in the match," said UC Davis head coach Stephanie Hawbecker. "Her containing the outside hitters as well as their block gave us a chance to stay in the match."

"We're a little more well-rounded right now. We're getting the fighter's mentality and holding longer and longer, and that's a great sign. We pushed a nationally respected team on their home court."

In Game 1, Shannon Arts had three kills while Natalie Melcher and Haupt teamed up for a block to help Sacramento State pull away from a narrow 8-7 lead to a more comfortable 13-8 edge early in Game 1. The Aggies whittled back into the game, first securing back-to-back kills by Read to trip the Hornet lead to two points. Then Jill McPheeters' offspeed shot fell into the open court to tie the game at 15-15.

That pattern continued throughout the first frame, with the Hornets scoring three or four consecutive points followed by a UC Davis run that retied the game. The Aggies gained their first lead on a kill by Read at 24-23, then again on a block by McPheeters and Wilson at 25-24. However, the Hornets scored the final six points of the first game, highlighted by two kills by Arts and a solo block by Jennifer Ferguson.

In the second game, UC Davis stormed out to an early 9-3 lead, getting three kills from Wilson and a second ace by sophomore setter Katelyn Astruc in that run. The Hornets gradually fought back to a 15-15 tie on a kill by Haupt, the first three ties in the middle portion of the game.

The Hornets began to ascend in the final stages of the second game as a block assist and kill from Haupt bumped her team's lead up to a 24-20 margin and later to 25-21. The Aggies fought back to a 25-24 deficit behind Rachel Keener's serving but Sac State again delivered a strong finish, scoring five straight at the end. Haupt had yet another kill and block assists during the final Hornet flourish of Game 2.

Hubbard opened with back-to-back kills then Franz knocked down a free ball and won a joust during Sacramento State's 9-3 run to start Game 3. The Hornets' edge never diminished by less than that six-point spread. Hubbard had three kills in a span of four points to push her team up by 27-17 late in the match.

Junior opposite Leah Klemenhagen provided a block assist to give the Hornets a 29-20 match point and, after a solo block by Wilson, put down the match-winning kill along the right sideline.

UC Davis returns to action on October 21 and 22 with home matches against UC Irvine and Long Beach State, respectively.

UC DAVIS (kills-aces-blocks) - Michelle Nelson 0-1-0, Katelyn Astruc 0-2-0, Katie Wilson 6-0-4, Jenny Pierce 6-2-0, Rachel Keener 8-2-1, Nicole Read 11-1-0, Cleo Schiff 0-0-0, Chantal Paschetta 1-0-0, Jill McPheeters 4-0-2, Nichole Brown 0-0-0. Totals 36-8-4.0. Assists - Katelyn Astruc 29. Digs leader - Nichole Brown 33.

SACRAMENTO STATE (kills-aces-blocks) - Atlee Hubbard 14-0-1, Mallory Hook 0-0-0, Michelle Franz 10-1-5, Jennifer Ferguson 9-1-2, Natalie Melcher 2-0-4, Lindsay Haupt 10-0-5, Kristin Lutes 0-1-0, Leah Klemenhagen 1-0-1, Shannon Arts 9-0-2. Totals 55-3-10.0. Assists - Natalie Melcher 44. Digs leaders - Atlee Hubbard 13, Kristin Lutes 13.