The award is Colberg’s fifth-straight and seventh in the last eight years, and builds on her recognition of winning the most awards in conference history (volleyball). She led the Hornets to a 25-7 overall record and an 11-3 mark in the Big Sky this year while the team became the first in league history to win three-straight championships away from its home floor. Sacramento State has now won the Big Sky’s regular season and/or tournament championship each of the last eight years, and will play in the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time in eight seasons.

The Hornets will take on Saint Mary’s in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 2, at 5 p.m., in Berkeley, Calif. Should Sacramento State defeat the Gaels, it would face the winner of Pacific/Cal on Friday at 7 p.m.

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, 2001, 2002 and 2003. She owns a career record of 743-268 (.735 winning percentage) and has led the team to 16 league titles and 24 postseason berths. In her 29th season as a head coach, she is tied for fifth among active NCAA Div. I coaches in total victories, and her teams have posted winning records in 27 of her 29 years at the helm.

Colberg is first all-time among Big Sky volleyball coaches with an .813 winning percentage (109-25) in conference matches. A Sacramento State alumna, the 1989 AVCA National Div. II Coach of the Year is one of six active Div. I coaches to reach the 700-win plateau.

This year, the Hornets received four conference player of the week awards while also placing four players (Sandra Bandimere and Emily Wilson-first team; Stephanie Gamst-second team; Lindsay Haupt-Outstanding Freshman) on the all-conference squad. As a team, Sacramento State placed at least second in seven different Big Sky statistical categories, including first in kills (16.01 per game), digs (19.02 per game) and assists (14.45 per game). The Hornets’ digs per game is also the nation’s 16th-best mark.

Sacramento State’s appearance in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday will mark the team’s seventh in the last eight years (1997-2000, 2002-04) at the postseason event. The seven NCAA Tournament appearances are more than any other Big Sky team (past or present).