The Causeway Classic is coming to the Hornets Nest tonight and Sacramento State is primed for the match up.

The Hornets have won 13 of their last 15 matches and have dropped only one match inside the friendly confines of the Nest the entire season. That loss came against Santa Clara in the middle of a five-match losing streak for the Hornets. Previous to that the Hornets have not given up a match at home since the beginning of the 2003 season.

“As far as wins and losses we’re doing really well,” head coach Debby Colberg said. “But I always see room for improvement.”

The team has steadily been improving since the five-match losing streak that now seems so long ago. Dominant sophomore middle hitters Michelle Franz and Lindsay Haupt have controlled the net recently and have helped the team break into the NCAA Div. I top 20 for blocks and digs.

Junior Kristin Lutes was ranked 26th in the nation in digs at 5.37 per game last week. Since then she has averaged 4.50 digs per game in the last three matches at the Nest.

On the offensive side Atlee Hubbard has overwhelmed opponents, raising her career high twice this season. First at Portland State she had 24 kills, then again at home on Thursday against Weber State she had 26 kills in a four-game match. The junior has also posted 13 double-doubles this season, while ranking among Big Sky leaders in nearly all statistical categories.

Meanwhile the Aggies have had little to celebrate after snapping a month-long losing streak against the Matadors of Cal State Northridge recently. Currently, Davis is 3-16 on the season after dropping the Matadors to 3-13.

In her third win of the season junior outside hitter Nicole Read tallied 25 kills, backed by freshman Nichole Brown’s 28 digs.

The Aggies other two wins came at the beginning of the season when they hosted the Aggie Invitational, defeating Idaho State in three games and Washington State in five games.

Sac State controls the series 45-16 in the history of the Classic. The match will get underway tonight in the Nest at 7 p.m.

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Brad Alexander can be reached at [email protected]