VOLLEYBALL’S HOYUM AND THIVIERGE EACH RECEIVE ALL-CONFERENCE ACCOLADES

11/26/2009

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento State senior outside hitter Desiree Hoyum (second team) and junior middle hitter Maddison Thivierge (honorable mention) were both named to the Big Sky’s all-conference team, it was announced this evening by the league office.

Hoyum and Thivierge were two of three Sacramento State players to start every match this season and helped lead the team to a 16-16 record, a six-win improvement from last year’s 10-23 finish.

Hoyum, who was named honorable mention all-conference last season, posted career highs in nearly every category in 2009. Among Big Sky leaders, she ranked first in the league in double-doubles (21), second in kills (3.60 per set), fifth in points (4.05 per set) and eighth in digs (3.58 per set). The double-doubles were three more than any other player in the Big Sky, and she tallied double figures in digs in 29 of 32 matches, and double figures in kills in 23 of 32 contests. She also led the Hornets in kills in 19 of 32 matches.

A native of Anderson, Calif., Hoyum started all 55 matches over the last two years as a full rotation outside hitter. She finished her career with 965 kills, 888 digs and 161 blocks. Over her final two seasons in the Green and Gold, she had 41 matches with double figures in kills, and 45 matches with double figures in digs.

In her third season with the Hornets, Thivierge received all-league honors for the first time. The junior from Ashland, Ore., posted career highs in kills (2.27 per set), hitting percentage (.276) and blocks (0.77 per set). Thivierge had double figures in kills 13 times in 2009, including a career-best 18 against Alabama. She also hit at least .400 on nine occasions, including a .636 (7-0-11) percentage against Montana State.

Thivierge has started all 65 matches over the last two years at middle hitter, and she has improved her kills, hitting percentage and blocks each of her three seasons with the Hornets. For her career, she now had 611 kills, a .258 hitting percentage, 210 blocks and 756 points.

Sacramento State, which concluded its season last Saturday against Eastern Washington, was playing the year with a roster that included 10 underclassmen, including four freshmen and six sophomores. The Hornets will return 11 players in 2010 as the team looks to regain the edge that has seen the program win 11 Big Sky regular season and/or tournament championships over the last 13 seasons (1996-07).