Crowton, a 5-10 outside hitter from Garden Valley, Calif., played this past summer for the Gold Cal Juniors Club, which featured current Hornet rightside hitter Anna Schoener and was coached by Sacramento State assistant Ruben Volta. A three-time all-league selection at Garden Grove’s Golden Sierra High School, she helped lead the Grizzlies to four-straight Golden Empire League championships, including a combined 129-0 league record. That run included a state championship in 2003, and a state runner-up finish in 2004.

A four-year starter, Crowton finished second in the Sac-Joaquin Section as a sophomore with 466 kills. This past season, she averaged 8.4 kills, 7.6 digs, 1.4 aces and 1.2 blocks per match. Crowton hit .342, and ranked fifth in the section with 370 kills. Golden Sierra just lost in the section semifinals to No. 1 seed Ripon on Wednesday night. Playing for Volta this past summer, she helped lead Gold Cal Juniors to an 11th-place finish at the Junior Nationals. Crowton will play for Gold Cal again this summer, which will be coached by former Sacramento State outside hitter Carissa Buie and current Hornet libero Kristin Lutes.

“Cayti is a very good outside hitter who played for Ruben, so she knows our system,” Colberg said. “She hits for power, and is a full-time passer. With more experience and training, we believe she will become a top-notch outside hitter.”

Mendivil, a six-foot outside hitter from Lindon, Utah, played four years of varsity volleyball at Utah’s Pleasant Grove High School. Mendivil started at three positions (middle, outside and rightside hitter) during her final three years with the volleyball team, and helped lead the Vikings to a 5A state championship and a 34-1 record in 2005. In addition, the 2004 team finished with a 26-3 record and a runner-up finish at the state championships.

This past year, she averaged 2.70 kills, 2.00 digs and nearly one ace per game. Mendivil finished the year with 100 aces, which was the second-best mark in state history. A three-time academic all-region selection and 2005 nominee for academic all-state (3.96 gpa), Mendivil has spent seven years playing for the High Country Volleyball team in Salt Lake City. She was the team captain for High Country in 2005, leading the team in kills, aces and points.

“Whitney is a very aggressive attacker and blocker, and that is what we want in the front row,” Colberg said. “She comes come from a very good club program and I like her size. She puts up a good block, hits a nice ball, and can also pass.”

Thivierge (pronounced TEE-verz), a 5-11 middle hitter from Ashland, Ore., was a three-time first team all-conference selection at Ashland High School. She was a third team all-state, and all-state tournament selection in 2005 after helping lead the Grizzlies to a state championship and a 34-1 record. Thivierge also led Ashland to back-to-back conference championships (2005-06), including a combined 22-0 league record.

The Ashland High School single-season and career record holder for hitting percentage, Thivierge hit .492 during her junior season. She had 167 kills and 29 blocks before breaking her foot midway through this past season, but still garnered first team all-conference honors. A four-year member of Ashland’s honor roll, Thivierge spent the past four years playing for the Southern Oregon Volleyball club team.

“We really like Maddison’s versatility in that she can play outside, rightside or middle hitter,” Colberg said. “I don’t see her playing in the middle for us next year simply because we have two first team all-conference players (Lindsay Haupt and Michelle Franz) at that position. But, she will play middle for us during her final three years. She is very athletic and will be a high-end front row player for us.”

“We’re very pleased that we were able to sign Cayti, Whitney and Maddison,” Colberg said. “All three are very good players, good students, and good people, and I’m looking forward to working with them.”

Sacramento State (28-5, 15-1), which won this year’s Big Sky Conference regular season championship, is currently hosting the Big Sky Tournament, with the winner receiving an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. The Hornets will take on No. 5 seed Northern Colorado in the semifinals of the tournament tonight at 7:30 p.m. Sacramento State has won 10 consecutive Big Sky regular season and/or tournament championships, and has advanced to the NCAA Tournament eight times in the last nine years. Owners of the 17th best winning percentage in the nation, Sacramento State has won five in a row and 16 of the last 17 matches.

2007 Sacramento State Signings

Name Pos Yr Ht Hometown/Previous School

Cayti Crowton OH Fr. 5-10 Garden Valley, Calif./Golden Sierra HS

Whitney Mendivil OH Fr. 6-0 Lindon, Utah/Pleasant Grove HS

Maddison Thivierge MH Fr. 5-11 Ashland, Ore./Ashland HS