The Sacramento State volleyball squad (9-9, 1-3) continues its season-long five-match road trip this week when it travels to Big Sky Conference foes Idaho State (Friday, Oct. 9, 6 p.m. PDT) and Weber State (Saturday, Oct. 10, 6 p.m. PDT). This week may be the biggest of the season for a Hornet squad that has dropped three straight matches, including 3-1 losses last week at Eastern Washington and Portland State.
Though still very early in the season, the Hornets’ 1-3 league record ties them for seventh in the Big Sky and the team cannot afford to dig themselves a larger hole. Especially when you consider that the Big Sky Tournament changed its format and only four teams will make this year’s postseason event (different from six teams in years past).
The top three teams in the conference – Eastern Washington 5-0, Northern Colorado 4-0, Portland State 4-1 – have already begun to distance themselves from the rest of the league. Currently, only one game separates the next five teams in the league standings, comprised of Idaho State (3-3), Montana (2-3), Weber State (2-4), Sacramento State (1-3) and Northern Arizona (1-3), making this week even more important for the Hornets.
Idaho State (7-8, 3-3) comes off a week in which it knocked off both Montana and Montana State on the road. The Bengals are looking for their first home victory of the season, having lost to Eastern Washington and Portland State in their only two home matches thus far. Sacramento State is 24-3 all-time against Idaho State, including a 10-3 mark in Pocatello. However, one of those losses came last year in five sets.
After getting off to a rough start, Weber State (3-13, 2-4) has won two of its last four matches, including a home victory over Portland State and road win at Montana State. The Hornets are 22-7 all-time against the Wildcats, including an 8-4 mark in Ogden. Weber State has won two of the last three contests between the two teams dating back to 2007.
Last Week
Sacramento State won the first set in both matches last week at Eastern Washington and Portland State, but lost in four to both teams. Entering last week, the Hornets had been 6-2 after winning the first set of a match. Since joining the Big Sky in 1996, Sacramento State had never been swept during the Eastern Washington-Portland State road swing prior to last week.
Free Video Stream, Stats and Audio
Like every match against a Big Sky opponent (home or away) this season, free video stream will be offered via www.bigskytv.org. In addition, Idaho State will offer live stats via www.isubengals.com, and Weber State will offer live stats at www.weberstatesports.com.
Don’t Panic Yet
Although Sacramento State is 1-3 in the Big Sky, the team has already completely arguably the toughest road trip during conference. That came during last week’s trip to Portland State and Eastern Washington, which were selected to finish first and second, respectively, in the Big Sky preseason poll. The only other teams in the conference to get that trip out of the way are Montana and Montana State. In addition, Sacramento State has already played Northern Colorado (one of two undefeated teams remaining in league play) one time. The Hornets have qualified for the Big Sky Tournament every year since joining the league in 1996, and the team has reached at least the semifinal round all but one of those seasons. In fact, Sacramento State has won nine conference tournament crowns (1997-98, 2000, 2002-07) over the last 12 years.
A Comparison To Last Season
The Hornets have made major strides compared to last season’s rebuilding team which finished the season with just a 10-23 record. In fact, Sacramento State, which still has 14 matches remaining on the regular season schedule, is already one victory shy of last year’s win total. At this time last season, the Hornets were 4-14 compared to this year’s 9-9 record. Sacramento State has been better in nearly every statistical category, and below is a breakdown of this year’s averages compared to last year’s numbers at the same point in the season. Digs: 2009 - 17.01 per set; 2008 - 14.14 per set Kills: 2009 - 12.36 per set; 2008 - 11.45 per set Blocks: 2009 - 2.03 per set; 2008 - 1.62 per set Hitting percentage: 2009 - .183; 2008 - .162 Assists: 2009 - 11.74 per set; 2008 - 10.60 per set Total Points: 2009 - 1,164; 2008 - 942
Serving Tough And Defense
Two of Sacramento State’s biggest strengths this year have been serving tough and playing good defense. The Hornets are currently first in the Big Sky in service aces (1.56 per set), digs (17.01 per set) and opponents hitting percentage (.174). The 17.01 digs per set is more than 2.5 digs better than any other team in the Big Sky and is now the 19th best mark in the nation. In addition, the Hornets’ 114 aces are 30 more than the next closest Big Sky team (Portland State, 84).
Carrying The Load
The Hornets’ outside hitter combination of senior Desiree Hoyum and freshman Janelle Currey have been arguably the best duo in the Big Sky Conference. Especially when you consider that Currey and Hoyum are tied for the Big Sky lead with 11 double-doubles. Both rank among the top 10 players in the conference in kills, digs, points and service aces, the only outside hitter tandem in the league to rank that high in all four categories. Hoyum is averaging 3.47 kills, 3.75 digs, 3.97 points and 0.30 aces per set, and her kills are currently the second best mark in the conference. Currey is averaging 3.19 kills, 3.26 digs, 3.71 points and 0.32 aces per set. The two have combined for 486 of the Hornets’ 902 kills, or 53.9 percent of the team’s offensive output. Either Hoyum (9 times) or Currey (7 times) has led the team in kills in 16 of 18 matches thus far.
Hornet Notables
With 20 digs at Portland State, libero Breanne Menees recorded her seventh match with at least 20 digs this year, and remains first in the Big Sky with an average of 4.58 digs per set...middle hitters Kelsey Elston (0.91) and Maddison Thivierge (0.85) rank fourth and eighth, respectively, in the Big Sky in blocks per set, one of just two middle hitter tandems in the league to rank that high in blocks (Portland State’s Erica Jepsen and Christi Hamilton is the other duo).
Preview Of The Week Ahead
