Sacramento State?s volleyball team sure picked the perfect time to catch fire.

The Hornets have won five of its last six matches to end its preseason run with a 6-3 record, their latest win coming Tuesday night at St. Mary?s College?s.

Behind Tasman Dwyer?s season-high 20 kills, Sac State battled back from an early deficit to come out triumphant 3-1 (20-30, 30-26, 30-22, 30-26) at McKeon Pavillion.

The Big Sky Conference regular season begins Friday against Idaho State University. Sac State will then face Weber State University on Saturday. Both contests are away clips for the Hornets.

“We came out real slow and we weren’t mentally there in regards to defense and passing,” Dwyer said of Tuesday?s match.

Hornets head coach Debby Colberg was pleased with her team?s effort, but she admitted that it has been lacking consistency.

On Sept. 7, California State University, Fresno exposed the Hornets? inconsistency in the Fresno State Invitational, when the Bulldogs rallied back from a 2-0 deficit to eventually notch Sac State?s lone defeat in its last six matches.

“We play really well at times, but usually play up and down,” Colberg said.

Colberg noted that when there?s less ball control, the Hornets have mental lapses and tend to make more mistakes.Such was the case in Sac State?s first set with St, Mary?s (2-4).

“We started off shaky, especially with passing and serving,” Colberg said. “We made some changes in the line for the second game and on.”

Consistency played a major role for the Hornets in the next three games, however.

Sophomore setter Lisa Beauchene helped Dwyer keep St. Mary?s off balanced, totaling 46 assists to go with 13 kills and 19 digs. Beauchene?s stat line marked her second triple-double of the season.

“Lisa was key in the win. She played very offensive, which is unusual for setters,” Colberg said.

Junior Jayme Wright chimed in with her second double-double of the season for the Hornets, amassing 15 kills and a season-best 19 digs. Senior Kelly Voeltz, meanwhile, recorded 10 kills.

Dwyer said that the team is still tinkering with the lineup. But with the depth in talent on the squad, she felt that the team will be ready for its Big Sky competition.

“We definitely have the talent to back it up, we just need to focus more mentally,” Dwyer said.