STIDHAM RACKS UP HER FOURTH BIG SKY PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD

11/12/2007

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento State senior outside hitter Missie Stidham was named the Big Sky Conference’s Co-Volleyball Player of the Week today, marking the fourth time she has received the award this season.

Stidham led Sacramento State to a pair of victories last week over Montana State and Montana after the middle hitter combined for 6.57 kills, 4.57 digs and 0.71 aces per game to go along with a .297 hitting percentage. Stidham, who posted match highs in kills in both contests last week, finished the two-match stretch with 46 kills in 101 attacks.

She shared this week’s award with Eastern Washington’s Alysha Cook. In her first year with the Hornets after transferring from Saint Mary’s, Stidham also received the honor on Sept. 3, Sept. 17 and Sept. 24. The four league player of the week awards is the most by any player in the Big Sky Conference this season.

The Fresno, Calif., native began the week last Friday against the Bobcats by recording 23 kills, 14 digs and a .391 hitting percentage (23-5-46). Her 23 kills were 15 better than any Montana State player. She followed up that effort one night later against Montana with 23 kills, 18 digs and five aces.
    
Stidham, who is 19th in the nation with an average of 5.04 kills per game, now has 12 matches this season with at least 20 kills. In addition, she recorded her Big Sky-best 25th and 26th double-doubles of the season. Against conference competition, she is now averaging 5.47 kills and 4.29 digs per game.

Her 570 kills are already the third best mark in Sacramento State Div. I single-season history (1991-pres.). The Hornets (25-6, 12-2), who currently sit in first place in the league standings, embark upon their final week of the regular season when they travel to Eastern Washington (Friday, Nov. 16) and Portland State (Saturday, Nov. 17). The team will host the Big Sky Tournament on Nov. 23-24.