The Hornets'' varsity eight finished first in both its heat and semifinals to advance to Sunday''s grand final which begins at 10 a.m. PST. The team''s varsity four finished second in its heat and third in the semifinals to receive a berth into Sunday''s grand final. The varsity four and varsity eight were the only crews that Sacramento State entered in the competition as the Hornets are competing at the Knecht Cup Regatta for the first time in school history.

In the varsity eight''s morning heat, Sacramento State posted a winning time of 8:03.9. That time was almost 21 seconds faster than second-place Temple (8:24.6). With that victory, the Hornets advanced to the semifinals later in the afternoon and easily finished in first place. Sacramento State''s winning time in the semis was 7:29.0, followed by second-place Rhode Island (7:36.5), Wisconsin Lightweights (7:42.7), Buffalo (7:47.4), Fordham (7:52.5) and Temple (7:55.9).

Joining Sacramento State in tomorrow''s varsity eight grand final will be Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Marist, George Washington and WIRA foe Gonzaga.

In the varsity four''s morning heat, the Hornets (8:34.80) finished second behind Penn State (8:31.67) in the six-boat field. That earned Sacramento State a spot in the semifinals where it finished third with a time of 9:08.8, behind Kansas “A” (8:58.0) and Kansas “B” (9:05.6).

Joining Sacramento State in tomorrow’s varsity four grand final will be Villanova, Penn State, Boston College and both Kansas “A” and “B” boats. The varsity four grand final will take place at 5:50 a.m. PST.

SATURDAY’S SACRAMENTO STATE LINEUPS

Varsity Eight: Cecilia Vina at coxswain, Laura Harder at stroke, Brittney Claycamp at seven, Sara Crain at six, Ashley Roundtree at five, Steffanie Jakovac at four, Janine LaCrosse at three, Ashley Wayman at two and Jamie Weatherfield at bow.

Varsity Four: Megan Williams at coxswain, Ashley Borelli at stroke, Courtney Buehler at three, Aimee Chenard at two and Teresa Bitcon at bow.

SATURDAY’S SACRAMENTO STATE RESULTS

Women’s Varsity Four (Heat 3)

1. Penn State 8:31.67

2. Sacramento State 8:34.80

3. Kansas “B” 8:37.40

4. John Hopkins 8:49.40

5. MIT 10:00.20

6. New Hampshire “B” NTT

Women’s Varsity Eight (Heat 3)

1. Sacramento State 8:03.90

2. Temple 8:24.60

3. Georgetown 8:29.10

4. Georgetown Lightweights 8:44.80

5. Loyola (Baltimore) 8:48.40

Women’s Varsity Four Semifinal 1

1. Kansas “A” 8:58.0

2. Kansas “B” 9:05.6

3. Sacramento State 9:08.8

4. Georgetown 9:13.7

5. Lehigh 9:20.6

6. Connecticut 9:29.1

Women’s Varsity Eight Semifinal 3

1. Sacramento State 7:29.0

2. Rhode Island 7:36.5

3. Wisconsin Lightweights 7:42.7

4. Buffalo 7:47.4

5. Fordham 7:52.5

6. Temple 7:55.9