Volleyball takes Husky Invitational
Image: Volleyball takes Husky Invitational:Lisa Beauchene:
September 11, 2002
The Sacramento State women?s volleyball team continued to build on its strong start to the season by winning the IKON Husky Invitational in Storrs, Conn. last weekend.
The championship comes one week after Sac State finished second at the Sam Houston Invitational in Huntsville, Texas.
Hornet coach Debby Colberg was a bit disappointed that her team did not win the tournament in Texas, but she was much happier with the team?s performance in Connecticut.
“Overall, we played much better this week,” Colberg said. “We played at a higher level and with much more confidence.”
The weekend began on Friday when the Hornets swept the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 30-22, 30-21, and 30-11.
Junior setter Lisa Beauchene, who was named the tournament?s Most Valuable Player, posted a double-double for the second straight match and the third time this season.
Senior outside hitter Jayme Wright and middle hitter Kazmiera Imrie each recorded double digits in kills with 14 and 10 respectively, while junior defensive specialist Olivia Thomas chipped in with 13 digs.
“We didn?t change very much tactically this week. It?s hard to do that when you are playing so many matches in a short period of time,” Colberg said. “We just played with more intensity.”
Sophomore middle hitter Emily Wilson was back in the lineup after missing the first week of the season with a sprained foot. She had a match-high five blocks in her return.
“Emily?s a nice blocker,” Colberg said. “Having her back in the lineup really helps.”
On Saturday, Beauchene continued her stellar play against Temple University, recording 11 kills, 47 assists and 15 digs for the fourth triple-double of her career.
“Lisa (Beauchene) played much, much better this week than she did last week,” Colberg said. “She directed the offense better, made some spectacular plays and kept the other teams off balance. She stepped up her game all the way around.”
The match proved to be a tough one for Sac State. They lost the first two games 26-30 and 22-30 before winning the next three games 30-22, 30-28, and 15-8.
The game proved to be a definitive win for the Hornets in the tournament.
In addition to Beauchene?s numbers, Imrie, Wright and senior middle hitter Loretta Coffman each had double-doubles.
Thomas and junior outside hitter Ali Mathewson reached double digits in digs. Imrie missed a triple-double by one block and continues to impress her coaches.
“Kazmiera (Imrie) has had two really good weekends in a row,” Colberg said. “She was named to the all-tournament team this week. If I were the one making the decisions, I would have made her all-tournament last week as well.”
The final match of the tournament also took place on Saturday as Sac State faced host University of Connecticut and swept them 30-19, 30-13, 30-22.
In the win the Hornets limited Connecticut to a .025 hitting percentage. They also dominated in kills, 50-30, and out blocked the Huskies 9-5.
Imrie had another strong game with nine kills, six digs, and five blocks.
Coffman contributed six kills and 10 digs, as well as three blocks. Thomas also had 14 digs. Wright led the team with 18 kills and had nine digs.
She was also named to the all-tournament team along with Beauchene and Imrie.
In addition, Wright was named the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week last week, recordinbg 44 kills and 59 digs in Texas to go along with 46 kills and 34 digs this week.
Like Imrie, Wright has already earned high praise from her coaches.
“Jayme is having a great year. We are depending on her a lot, and so far, she is coming through,” Colberg said.
The tournament win brings Sac State?s winning-streak to six games after losing their season opener.
Next week, the Hornets return to Hornet Gym as they face Butler University on Thursday. They end the week at the Nevada Invitational Tournament on Friday and Saturday.
