The annual award, which is voted upon by league coaches, was given to Colberg after she led Sacramento State to a 24-10 overall record and a Big Sky Tournament championship. The Hornets, who will face No. 2-seed and host Stanford this Friday, Dec. 6, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, have won five Big Sky regular-season championships (1997-2001) and four tournament championships (1997-98, 2000, 2002) since joining the conference in 1996. Benson received a share of the award after leading Eastern Washington to a first-place finish in the conference, including a 29-2 overall record and a No. 18 national ranking in the USA Today/AVCA Div. I top 25 poll.

This year’s award marks the fifth time in the last six years that Colberg has received the honor. Colberg, who doubled as Sacramento State’s athletics director from 1998 until June of 2002, was also named Big Sky Coach of the Year in 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001.

Colberg owns a career record of 695-248 (.737 winning percentage) and has led the team to 14 league titles and 22 postseason berths. In 27 years as a head coach, she is seventh all-time among active NCAA Div. I coaches in total victories. In addition, Colberg is just five wins shy of 700 for her career, a feat only five active Div. I coaches have achieved.

Colberg now holds the record for the most coaching awards in Big Sky volleyball history and is first all-time among Big Sky coaches with an .815 winning percentage (88-20) in conference matches. A Sacramento State alumna, the 1989 AVCA National Div. II Coach of the Year has guided the team to eight-consecutive 20-win years and has just two losing seasons during her tenure with the Hornets.

This season, Sacramento State finished with an 11-3 Big Sky record and a second-place finish in the regular season standings despite a starting lineup that consisted of two freshmen and two sophomores. As a team, the Hornets rank at least third or better in the conference in digs (first with 17.43 per game), blocks (third with 2.66 per game), kills (third with 15.35 per game) and assists (third with 13.46 per game).

The Hornets received three player of the week awards and four members of the squad were named all-conference. Junior setter Lisa Beauchene (unanimous first team), senior outside hitter Jayme Wright (second team), junior middle hitter Kazmiera Imrie (second team) and sophomore outside hitter Sandra Bandimere (honorable mention) each received all-conference honors.

Sacramento State’s appearance in the NCAA Tournament on Friday will mark the team’s fifth appearance in the last six years (1997-2000, 2002) at the postseason event.