The Hubbards were sitting at a San Francisco Giants game with Atlee Hammaker pitching and thought his name was interesting, so they decided to name their unborn child after the local pitcher.

They had the pitcher sign a baseball for his namesake, which read, “Dear Atlee, God bless. It’s an honor.”

“It’s cool,” Atlee Hubbard said about the collectable. “I have a little story behind (my name).”

Little did they know that Hubbard would later become a Sacramento State Hornet volleyball player, who leads the team in kills.

As with teammate Michelle Franz, Hubbard also went away for college with a scholarship, but it wasn’t what she had expected.

The College of Charleston in South Carolina and Rhode Island both offered Hubbard scholarships, but she decided on Rhode Island.

“I wanted to get away from home, and I took a chance. Something I realized is that scholarships aren’t the best way to pick a college,” Hubbard said.

She was majoring in kinesiology and wanted to become an athletic trainer.

To her surprise, Rhode Island didn’t offer the degree she wanted. It also didn’t help that she was on a losing volleyball team that didn’t mesh well together.

“I had to find a school that’s certified for (Kinesiology), and I didn’t like being on a losing volleyball team. They weren’t a top volleyball team” she said. “Those things combined drove me to transfer.”

She e-mailed coaches from schools that offered the degree she wanted and Sac State coach Debby Colberg was the first to reply, Hubbard said.

“I kept talking to Debby and Sac State and the thought of it only being two hours away from home,” she said. “My parents met me on a special visit and we all liked it.”

She began playing for the Hornets her sophomore year, joining fellow sophomore Kristin Lutes, who said, “She’s one of the best additions we have had.”

“I don’t think we’d be (where we are) without Atlee,” Lutes said. “I don’t know what I would do without her.”

When Hubbard first came to Sac State, she didn’t have the level of ability she has now with her ball control, Colberg said, but as the years went on, she improved.

“Early on, they [other teams] passed to her because she was (not as good), but she’s better now and they still pass to her,” Colberg said.

Hubbard was so happy with the change in atmosphere that it didn’t matter if the team lost games. She was having fun.

“Even if we did lose more than we do, it wouldn’t be the fun part, but having this team would have made me happy,” she said. “I saw how much the girls liked to hang around and do things for each other. It made it easy to come here and I’m happy that I did.”

Of Hubbard’s three years at Sac State, this season is her favorite.

“This season, by far, has been the most fun,” she said. I think we have been really successful. Everyone puts into it. The non-starters put a lot into the practices. They are really tough competitors and that makes everyone better.”

Hubbard has earned a lot of success while playing with the Hornets. She was named to the first team all Big Sky last season and made it to the Big Sky Tournament team the past two seasons. She likes the honor, but winning as a team is more important to her.

“I don’t judge my season as what I get in the end. Its something that comes along with all our wins,” she said. “I’m most happy when we have a good season and are successful.”

Replacing Hubbard will be just as difficult as replacing her senior teammate Lutes.

“She’s the whole package,” Colberg said. “I’d have to find a player with the whole package.”

Hubbard knows that the leadership will be one of the hardest components to replace with the loss of Lutes and herself, but has confidence in the juniors on the team to step up.

“I think that Kristin and I both try to be strong leaders as far as our playing abilities and dedication on the court as leaders,” she said. “I consider them (Jennifer Ferguson, Franz and Lindsay Haupt) seniors with us, with all the experience and maturity. I have no doubt that they will do a good job.”

Junior Franz isn’t looking forward to the outside hitter leaving. “I don’t want to think about her gone,” Franz said. “I don’t know what we will do.”

Her teammates won’t be without her support next season since she still has a year of schooling left and plans on coming to a lot of games.

Volleyball will still be in her schedule as she will be coaching a 15-year-old team for Gold Cal with fellow senior Leah Klemenhagen.

As for future plans, she will look into collegiate beach volleyball, doubles or playing overseas.