When the Sacramento State volleyball team goes up against itsrival from Eastern Washington University, the match takes on extraintensity. Saturday’s match at the Hornet’s Nest was nodifferent.

The Hornets defended their home court, sweeping the first placeEagles 3-0 in a hard fought and sometimes emotionally chargedcontest.

The win, combined with a win Thursday over Portland StateUniversity, puts the Hornets one match behind Eastern Washington inthe Big Sky Conference standings. While it is unlikely that SacState will catch them, they still had plenty to play for.

“They’re going to win the Big Sky,” head coachDebby Colberg said. “What’s at stake here is pride. Wedon’t ever want to lose in front of the homecrowd.”

Colberg, who was uncharacteristically vocal throughout thematch, added that the team was also mindful of the fact that itwould be the final home game for seniors Lisa Beauchene andKazmiera Imrie, who were honored in a ceremony prior to thematch.

“They have been instrumental in our success,”Colberg said. “They are sterling players and good people andwe wanted them to go out on a high note.”

Imrie had 13 kills and a .329 hitting percentage whileBeauchene’s 40 assists and 10 digs gave her a double-double.The Hornets were led by Sandra Bandimere’s 18 kills.

After Sac State won the first game 30-19, the teams traded leadsfor most of Game 2 until the Hornets jumped out to a 28-19 andeventually squeaked out a 30-26 lead.

Game 3 was more of the same. Eastern Washington built a 9-5 leadbefore the Hornets reeled off seven straight points to take thelead 12-9 and led 18-12 when the dogfight began again.

The Eagles got to within one point on two occasions, but SacState never relinquished the lead, winning 30-25.

“We knew what we wanted to do coming in here, and we wereable to execute the game plan,” Colberg said.

Imrie had a similar take.

“It was important that we show that we have confidence inourselves,” she said. “(The sweep) was big because theydid the same thing to us when we played them up there. We showed wecould play with them.”

Eastern Washington head coach Wade Benson, who was given ayellow card in the third game for throwing his clipboard, said hewas not surprised at all by how well Sac State played.

“It seems like they get their butts kicked when they playus at home, and we get our butts kicked here,” Benson said.”Neither team is able to show the other anythingelse.”

Benson insists that his team will be ready for Sac State whenconference tournament starts.

“I wouldn’t bet on them,” he said.