The women’s volleyball team will try to rebound from a rough start to its season in the Sacramento State Invitational, the team’s home tournament.

Sac State won the tournament in 2004.

The first game in the tournament for the volleyball team will be against the Nevada Wolfpack (2-3).Returning to the Hornets’ Nest is expected to do a world of good for head coach Debby Colberg’s team. The team has only lost 22 times at home since 1995.

The five losses so far show that teams have found ways to take advantage of a Hornets team that struggles to find its groove and transition from offensive to defensive.

After three gut-wrenching matches in Houston, Sac State volleyball returns to the Hornets’ Nest for a much needed home0court advantage and victory. However, Sac State extended its longest losing streak since 1991 while in Houston. The Hornets began with a strong start to the season scoring a solid win against Long Island then fell five straight until sweeping Houston in its final match Sunday.

In Saturday afternoon’s loss, Duke sophomore Carrie DeMonge recorded her second double-double of the season and had a game high 17 kills against the Hornets. Duke improved to 2-1 on the season.

In the second match Saturday, the Owls of Rice lost their first game in Autry Court since 2003 but finished by increasing their home winning streak to 18. Owls senior Olaya Pazo scored a career high of 24 kills against the Hornets.

The 2005 squad had improved their hitting percent past 200 until Sunday’s win against Houston.Columbia University, a team the Hornets have never faced, will open its season against Loyola Marymount on Friday and face the Hornets Saturday. Columbia had a record of three wins and 23 losses in 2004 and the Loyola Lions are 4-0 to start 2005.

“Loyola is in the same conference as Santa Clara (who beat the Hornet’s on August 30),” said Coach Colberg. “The competition will be a little better this year.”

“We’re very excited about our team,” said athletic director Terry Wanless. “There are some chemistry issues, but I think the freshman setter (Rose Burke) is the real deal.”

Burke, the team’s only full-time setter, led her Florida high school team to back to back 4A state championships in 2003 and 2004. Burke was defeated twice in 64 matches over those two seasons. Senior Natalie Melcher was put in for setter in the win against Houston on Sunday.

Brad Alexander can be reached at [email protected]