SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Nevada opened the 2023 campaign falling to Sacramento State 3-2 in a well-fought five set match.
 
Junior Nicanora Clarke led the Pack offense with 17 kills. Freshman Tehya Maeva made her collegiate debut with 19 assists off the bench. Leading the defense were senior Hikiala Kaohelaulii and junior Sia Liilii recording 17 and 16 digs respectively. The squad had 12 total blocks on the evening with sophomore Jordan Schwartz leading with seven block assists.
 
Nevada took the first point with an opening ace from senior setter Jaclyn Sanchez. The Hornets and Pack came out firing back and forth throughout the next couple of points, not letting the other get ahead by more than point. Sanchez earned her second ace of the night bringing the Pack's lead to 13-10. Jordan Schwartz and Hannah Platt double teamed on a block assist to bring Nevada up by two at the media timeout 15-13. Nevada kept the momentum to ultimately pull ahead of the Hornets 23-16, the largest lead of the first set by a kill from Nicanora Clarke. While Sacramento State attempted to catch up, the Wolf Pack put the first set away 25-19.
 
Starting out the second set on top once again, Nevada took the first point with a block assist from Platt and Schwartz. The Hornets then went on a 4-0 run to lead 15-11 going into the media timeout. Continuing their momentum, Sacramento State jumped up 18-11, forcing the Pack to call their first timeout of the set. Nevada stopped the run with kills by Tehya Maeva and Liilii, along with an attack error by Sacramento State's Ashlynn Archer to bring the Pack within six, but the Hornets closed the set 25-19 to even up the battle.
 
Nevada took the first point to open the third with a kill from Clarke, marking her eighth of the evening. The Pack forced the Hornets to call a timeout after taking the six-point lead 19-13 in the midst of a 3-0 run with their sights on capturing a 2-1 match lead. Sacramento State came within three after going on a 3-0 run of their own, bringing the match 19-16 before Nevada called a timeout. The Hornets attempted to close the gap after another 3-0 run brought them back within two, but the Wolf Pack held on to take the third set 25-22.
 
For the first time of the evening, the Hornets captured the first point of the set in the fourth, getting into their rhythm early to take an 11-1 lead over Nevada with the help of seven kills in a row and four errors. Sacramento State continued to pull away to take set four 25-11 to even up the match to 2-2 a piece headed into the fifth and final set.
 
The Hornets took an early 3-0 lead to start the final set before Nevada called their first timeout. Sacramento State was the first to eight, leading the Pack by four before switching sides. A final kill from Sacramento State's Ellie Tisko allowed the Hornets to capture the match 3-2.
 
Up next:
 
Nevada returns to The Nest tomorrow evening for its final two matches of the Sacramento State Tournament, first taking on Cal Poly at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Iowa on Sunday at 11 a.m.