Oct. 9, 2009
Final Stats
Sacramento State Box Score 
Pocatello, ID-- The Bengals fell flat against Sacramento State hitting a .132 attack percentage and were out-blocked 6-to-2 as the Hornets overcame Idaho State in straight sets (25-17, 28-26, 25-20) at Reed Gym Friday night. Idaho State's first home victory still eludes the Bengals as they fell to 0-3 at home for the season. Sacramento State improved to a 10-9 overall record and a 2-3 Big Sky record while the Bengals fell to 7-9 for the season and 3-4 in conference play.
Redshirt senior Paige Palmer kept the Bengals alive through several points throwing her body onto the floor to produce a dig stripping the Hornets of a kill. Palmer recorded 23 digs, her 11th consecutive double-figure performance, before a diving save to keep the ball in play with the Bengals down 15-20 in the third set became too much. Palmer laid out head first out of bounds making the save, but hit her head on the court knocking herself unconscious in the process.
Play continued before players and officials could figure out what had happened and stopped play. Palmer arose a minute later and was replaced by Jenna Proost. Officials would not allow a libero substitution so Proost entered as a non-libero and play continued. She was walking around after the substitution and will continue to be monitored.
"That was a hustle play for sure," said head coach Chad Teichert. "I wish she could do it without hurting herself."
Palmer recorded her fourth 20-plus dig performance of the season against the Hornets. She led the Bengals with two service aces.
Emily Waldron and freshman Breanne Van Every also posted double-figures in digs with 16 and 10 respectively. Sophomore Jaclyn Hone led the Bengals in kills with 11, she also recorded seven digs. Hone posted a .135 attack percentage in the contests. Junior Haylee Thompson posted 10 kills with a .200 attack percentage from 25 attempts and five errors.
The Bengals never hit above a .200 attack percentage during a set as they had their best percentage in the second set at .200 with 17 kills with six errors from 55 attempts. Idaho State had nine tied scores and four lead changes in the second set and led with match point at 25-24 before the Hornets' Maddison Thivierge earned sideout with a kills. Thivierge posted eight kills in the match with zero errors from 20 attempts for a .400 attack percentage.
Sacramento State had two players post double-doubles with Desiree Hoyum recording the match-high with 18 kills and posting 19 digs. She had a solid .325 attack percentage. Janelle Currey recorded 14 kills and 10 digs during the contests.
The Bengals continue to be out-blocked by Big Sky opponents as Sacramento State posted six team blocks to Idaho State's two; both came in the first set. Idaho State has never out-blocked a Big Sky opponent but the team did tie Northern Arizona with eight.
"It's a hard thing to explain," said Teichert of why the Bengals fell flat in their performance. "We could have blocked better; that would have been helpful. It's hard to know why we fell flat. In game two we went out and had it going with a lead then the next thing you know we are down 13-12, so it's a hard thing for me to understand, but we couldn't block worth beans tonight."
Senior Waldron continues her quest to join the triple-crown club (1,000 career points, digs and kills) as she recorded six kills against the Hornets. She needs just 30 more kills to post 1,000 for her career. She already owns more than 1,000 career points and digs.
Idaho State is back in action tomorrow night when they host in-state rival Boise State on Saturday, October 10 at Reed Gym. The match will begin at 7 p.m.
Notes: Sacramento State improves the series to 25-3 over the Bengals ... The loss ended Idaho State's two match winning-streak.
