THIVIERGE LEADS VOLLEYBALL TO FOUR-SET VICTORY OVER ALABAMA
9/12/2009
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Junior Maddison Thivierge led all players with 18 kills and a .444 hitting percentage (18-2-36) to help Sacramento State to a 3-1 (21-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-22) victory over Alabama in the third and final round of the Hornet Volleyball Invitational Saturday evening at Colberg Court.
Coupled with the team’s victory earlier this afternoon against Fresno State, Sacramento State completed the tournament with a 2-1 record and a second-place showing. San Francisco was crowned tournament champions based on its perfect 3-0 record, followed by the Hornets, Fresno State (1-2) and Alabama (0-3).
The Hornets (4-5 overall) have appeared to right the ship with a strong showing today after enduring a rough five-match losing streak that included four heartbreaking five-set losses. Representing Sacramento State on the all-tournament team were Thivierge and sophomore Kelsey Elston. During the tournament, Thivierge combined for averages of 3.08 kills and 0.67 blocks per set to go along with a team-best .419 hitting percentage. Elston led the squad in both blocks (1.42 per set) and service aces (4).
In tonight’s match, Sacramento State badly outkilled (62-47) and outdug (84-62) Alabama while also tallying six aces and nine team blocks. Thivierge’s 18 kills were six more than any other player in the match, including just two errors in 36 total attacks. Both the kills and attacks were career highs for the junior middle hitter. Elston, the Hornets’ other starting middle hitter, finished with eight kills and three blocks.
“I was very pleased with our middle hitters this weekend, largely because we passed well and got the middles involved in the attack,” Sacramento State head coach Ruben Volta said. “Tonight, we also did an excellent job of serving Alabama’s weaker passers which slowed down their offense.”
Thivierge, senior Desiree Hoyum (12 kills, 17 digs) and freshman Janelle Currey (12 kills, 12 digs) were the three Hornets with double-figure kills. Hoyum came up large during the latter stages of the fourth set, getting kills at 22-18, 23-20 and 24-21 to help Sacramento State complete the victory. Sophomore rightside hitter Anna Schoener finished with five kills and a .375 hitting percentage (5-2-8).
Defensively, sophomore Breanne Menees led all players with 23 digs, followed by freshman Sydney Kordic (17 digs), Hoyum (17) and Currey (12). Both Hoyum and Currey recorded their seventh double-doubles of the season. Hoyum and Kordic also had a pair of aces. Senior setter Melissa Melcher added four kills, 47 assists, nine digs and three blocks. Thivierge led the team with five blocks.
For Alabama, Leigh Moyer had 10 kills, while Calli Johnson finished with nine kills and eight blocks, and Kayla Fitterer added nine kills.
Sacramento State wraps up its season-long seven-match homestand with the volleyball version of the Causeway Classic on Tuesday, Sept. 15, against UC Davis. The match will begin at 7 p.m. Sacramento State leads the all-time series over UC Davis, 48-17.
HORNET VOLLEYBALL INVITATIONAL
FINAL RECORDS
San Francisco 3-0
Sacramento State 2-1
Fresno State 1-2
Alabama 0-3
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Fresno State 3, Alabama 2 (25-16, 28-26, 16-25, 20-25, 16-14)
San Francisco 3, Sacramento State 0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-17)
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
San Francisco 3, Alabama 2 (25-18, 14-25, 24-26, 27-25, 15-5)
Sacramento State 3, Fresno State 2 (22-25, 25-15, 25-16, 19-25, 15-12)
San Francisco 3, Fresno State 0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-23)
Sacramento State 3, Alabama 1 (21-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-22)
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Haley Carroll (San Francisco) – MVP
Sarah Mandala (San Francisco)
Anna Berger (San Francisco) Maddison Thivierge (Sacramento State) Kelsey Elston (Sacramento State)
Lauren Berger (Fresno State)
Kelsey Anderson (Alabama)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Junior 
