As each season passes, one thing remains constant for the Sacramento State women?s volleyball team. For the fifth consecutive year, the volleyball team will host the Big Sky Championships.

The Hornets have dominated the Big Sky conference since joining in 1996, combining to go 77-17 in conference play.

The team has never finished below second place and has won five Big Sky regular season titles, the first team in Big Sky history to accomplish the feat.

According to head coach Debby Colberg, the Hornets are getting accustomed to hosting the Big Sky Championships.

“It?s huge. We are spoiled having the Big Sky Championships,” Colberg said.

Hosting the tournament, the Hornets could prove to be unstoppable.

Sac State, who finished 19-8 overall, 12-2 in Big Sky conference play, has won its last 17 conference matches at Hornet Gym.

The road to winning the championship will not be easy for the Hornets. Colberg explained how some teams the Hornets may face will play better than when the Hornets faced them earlier in the season.

The team will get a first round bye, meaning the Hornets will only have to win one match to get to the championships.

The other five teams that have qualified for the championships are Eastern Washington University, Northern Arizona University, Weber State University, Montana State University and Idaho State University.

Six of the eight teams qualify for the championships.

“Some of the (Big Sky) teams did not play their best against us this season,” Colberg said. “It will be interesting to see how they come out. All the teams can knock us off.”

Individually for the Hornets, a few players will be bringing in some lofty regular season stats. Sophomore Lisa Beauchene led the team with a .377 hitting percentage, recording 300 digs and 200 kills.

Senior Tasman Dwyer finished with a .333 hitting percentage, led the team with 326 kills and finished second with 111 blocks.

Dwyer has never experienced a regular season out of first, and every Big Sky Championship has been on the home floor.

“We have an advantage going into the (Big Sky Championships),” Dwyer said. “It?s a blast. The expectations are high, but it is fun. It forces us to keep the reputation we have.”

Other individual leaders for the Hornets were sophomore Kazmiera Imrie, who led the team in blocks with 113 and also finished with 233 kills. Junior Jayme Wright led the team with 330 digs and finished second with 300 kills.

Toward the end of the season, Sac State played tough competition, including hosting Brigham Young University and traveling to Stanford University.

But that is exactly what Colberg wanted for her team.

“They keep you sharp. When you go back to a Big Sky game, it?s much different. Those are the types of teams we will be seeing in the playoffs,” Colberg said.

Sac State will receive a first-round bye and play its first game of the championships Friday night at 7:30 p.m. in Hornet Gym.