VOLLEYBALL ADDS SAINT MARY’S TRANSFER MISSIE STIDHAM

6/29/2007

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento State head volleyball coach Debby Colberg added a key figure to the team’s 2007 recruiting class when she announced today that Saint Mary’s Missie Stidham will transfer to Sacramento State and play her senior season for the Hornets in 2007.

Stidham, a 5-9 outside hitter from Fresno, Calif., will have the opportunity to take over the vacated starting outside hitter spot that was previously held by two-time first team all-conference selection Atlee Hubbard. Stidham played each of the last three years for Saint Mary’s where she was a three-time all-league selection in the powerful West Coast Conference (first team in 2005; honorable mention in 2004 and 2006).

A three-year starter for the Gaels, Stidham posted combined totals of 3.26 kills, 3.31 digs, 0.54 blocks and 0.32 aces per game. With 992 career kills and 1,007 career digs, she is already just eight kills shy of joining the 1,000 kills - 1,000 digs club. Stidham led Saint Mary’s in kills each of the last two seasons, and was first or second among team leaders in digs all three years.

“We feel very fortunate to get a player of Missie’s caliber,” Colberg said. “She is a complete player and her skills will add another dimension to our team, particularly with her jump serve. She has played very well the past three years at Saint Mary’s, and could become an integral part of the success we hope to achieve this season.”

As a sophomore in 2005, she finished with 4.64 kills and 3.08 digs per game, while posting league bests in both kills (4.77) and points (5.69) during West Coast Conference play. She was the only Div. I player during the 2005 season to record at least 30 kills and 30 digs in a match.

Among team leaders as a junior last year, she finished first in total attacks (911) and kills per game (3.69), and second in digs (2.74) and points per game (4.2). As a freshman in 2004, Stidham played in a team-high 110 games while leading the team and ranking seventh in the conference with 3.99 digs per game. In fact, her 439 digs that season set a new school record.

Stidham led Saint Mary’s to a pair of NCAA Tournament berths (2004, 2005), including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2004. In fact, the Gaels defeated Sacramento State, 3-1, in the first round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament. In that match, Stidham posted 12 kills, 24 digs and four blocks against the Hornets.

Stidham prepped at Buchanan High School in Clovis, Calif., where she was a three-time first team all-league selection while garnering Most Valuable Player honors in 2002.

Stidham is one of six newcomers to the Sacramento State roster for 2007. She joins Cayti Crowton (freshman outside hitter from Golden Sierra HS), Chelsea Goodsell (freshman libero from Dana Hills HS), Whitney Mendivil (freshman outside hitter from Pleasant Grove HS in Utah), Maddison Thivierge (freshman middle hitter from Ashland HS in Oregon) and Katie Van Der Wende (junior defensive specialist from Solano JC).

Sacramento State finished the 2006 season with a 30-6 overall record while also winning the Big Sky Conference’s regular season and tournament championships. The Hornets, who have posted a 799-284 record during Colberg’s 31-year tenure with the team, have won 10 straight Big Sky regular season and/or tournament championships and have advanced to the NCAA Tournament nine times in the last 10 seasons.