Montana Volleyball Falls to Sacramento State in Thrilling Five-Set Match

Sacramento, Calif. — The Montana Grizzlies volleyball team faced a heartbreaking defeat against the Sacramento State Hornets on Thursday, dropping a hard-fought match in five sets. The Grizzlies initially surged to a 2-0 lead, hoping to end a long-standing losing streak in Sacramento, where they have not won since 2013.

Montana, now at 11-6 overall and 3-3 in Big Sky Conference play, took the first two sets with scores of 25-22 and 25-23, displaying strong offensive prowess. However, the Hornets rallied back, winning the next three sets 25-21, 25-19, and 15-13 to claim victory.

Head coach said, “I’m pretty frustrated with our stamina and ability to hold details. We started out strong but couldn’t maintain the momentum.” Despite the loss, several Grizzlies had standout performances, including who recorded a career-high 16 kills. It marked just her second match this season in double digits.

Additionally, had a breakout night, adding 14 kills with zero errors, matching her own career-best. Setter also excelled with a personal-best of 20 digs, six kills, and 45 assists, showcasing her playmaking skills. “When we got the balls to our middle blockers, they were effective,” Lawrence noted.

Montana hit .278 as a team with a total of 64 kills. The Hornets, however, managed to edge them with a hitting percentage of .292, marking the highest against Montana this season. The match was closely contested, tied at various points early, but the Grizzlies were able to pull ahead due to a strong offensive surge.

In the fifth set, the Grizzlies started off with a 5-0 lead, thanks to Spachman. Unfortunately, Sacramento State found their rhythm, countering with a 10-1 run to turn the tide. Montana managed to get within one point at 12-11 but ultimately fell short.

This match marked the last regular-season meeting in the Big Sky Conference between the two teams, as the Hornets prepare to transition to the Big West next season. Montana’s defeat ends their hopes of finishing above .500 in road games this year.

As they head into their next matchup against Portland State Saturday night, the Grizzlies aim to rebound from their recent two-match losing streak. “We have to keep improving and find ways to finish matches,” Lawrence stated before looking ahead to the challenge.