OGDEN, Utah - Debby Colberg has been named Big Sky Conference

Volleyball Coach of the Year for the third time in four years, it was

announced by the conference today. The annual award, which is voted

upon by league coaches, was given to Colberg after she led Sacramento

State to a 21-11 overall record and its third Big Sky Conference

Tournament championship since joining the conference in 1996.

The Hornets will begin play in the NCAA Div. I Tournament this

Thursday, Nov. 30, against Santa Clara, marking the

fourth-consecutive season Colberg has led the Hornets to the NCAAs.

Also doubling as Sacramento State''s athletic director since 1998,

Colberg garnered her 650th career victory in the Big Sky Tournament

championship match with a win over Eastern Washington.

Colberg is second all-time in Big Sky coaching records with an .813

winning percentage (65-15) in conference matches. In 25 years as head

coach, Colberg has posted a 650-227 record (a .741 winning

percentage) and has led the team to 11 league titles and 19

postseason berths.

Her 650 wins ranks 10th on the all-time NCAA list among coaches with

at least five years of Div. I experience. A Sacramento State alumna,

the 1989 AVCA National Div. II Coach of the Year has guided the team

to six-consecutive 20-win years and has just two losing seasons

during her tenure with the Hornets.

This season, Sacramento State was 10-0 at home against Big Sky

opponents while leading the league in kills (1,849) and digs (2,216).

In the Big Sky single-season record books, this year''s Hornet team

ranks sixth in digs per game (19.79), seventh in attacks (5,373) and

10th in digs, kills per game (16.51) and assists per game (14.62).

The Hornets tallied three player of the week honors, one first team

all-conference selection (Tasman Dwyer), two second team selections

(Sarah Chlebana and Lisa Beauchene) and one honorable mention

selection (Esther Rogers).

Sacramento State''s first round match against Santa Clara this

Thursday will begin at 7 p.m. at the San Jose Event Center, located

on the San Jose State campus.