Two Big Sky powerhouses faced off in the Hornets Nest Thursday for the second time this season.

League-leading Sacramento State hosted third-place Eastern Washington, the last time the two teams meet Sac State surprised the Eagles with a three game sweep in Cheney, Wash., inside Reese Court.

In the first game both teams showed up in top form.

Head referee Eric Asami seemed to allow several errors go uncalled, including a pair of four-hit violations in the longest rally of the first game. Asami would continue to be the target of heckling fans through the match. Sacr State was forced to play four game points, until a joint block by setter Natalie Melcher and middle hitter Michelle Franz ended the battle at 33-31.

“Wow, they were a lot better this game,” said junior outside hitter Atlee Hubbard, comparing the Eagles to the last time the Hornets faced them in Cheney on Oct. 1.

These two rivals didn’t cool down in the second game as both teams kept their hitting percentage at or above the .200 mark. Eastern come on strong to start with a 6-2 lead. The Hornets would slowly counteract the Eagles momentum with some of their own. Hubbard led the attack, leading all players with 13 kills on 38 attempts by the end of the second game while hitting .289 with 7 digs.

Eastern’s strong defense kept them in the match, out-blocking Sac State 18 to five. But the Hornets would maintain the momentum ending the second game 30-24.

After a short break the teams’ offenses cooled down, to a near chill inside the Nest. The Eagles continued a strong defensive stand against the Hornets, nearly doubling their seasonal average in block assists at 7.33.

The Hornets found a second offensive force in junior outside hitter Lindsay Haupt, who finished the night with a dominating 13 kills on 20 attempts with a .550 hitting percentage plus two digs and four block assists.

The tension between the two teams during the third game was palpable. The Hornets were looking at a possible fourth game down 25-19 late in the third. Several miscues during the Hornets transition to defense, missed passes and seven service errors had taken their toll on the home team. Sac State learned its lesson however, after seemingly giving up a game after getting themselves in a hole, this time they stood strong. The Hornets went on a 10-2 tare to retake the lead at 29-28.

The two offensive leaders of the game, Haupt and Hubbard, would team up for the match-winning block against the Eagles.

“We needed to remember how hard we needed to work and that we’re the better team,” said senior setter Natalie Melcher.

“They’re a good team, but we’re better,” said junior outside hitter Shannon Roland.

Roland recently returned to play after sitting out five weeks from a broken left clavicle.

“Getting back into it is a little rough, but I’m coming back slowly,” said Roland.

The Hornets have now taking a grappling hold on the Big Sky leader board as they are 9-1 in conference play. This is also the ninth straight win for the Hornets, the longest streak since the 1999 season.

Sac State will face the only team to tarnish the Hornets conference record this year. Portland State will be coming into the match in second place in the Big Sky at 7-2 in the conference and 17-5 for the season on Saturday at 1 p.m.