The Hornets swept the Vikings of Portland State 3-0 (30-22, 30-24, 30-26) to win the Big Sky Conference tournament championship match Saturday night at the Hornets Nest.

The victory marked the sixth consecutive Big Sky Conference tournament title for the Hornets and gave the team an automatic berth into the NCAA Championships.

This appearance will be the 10th time in the last 11 years that the team will compete. It is also the 20th appearance for head coach Debby Colberg.

The team has yet to prepare for the tournament, as they do not yet know who they will be playing.

“It really depends on who we play. We’ll sit down and exchange video and kind of just get to work,” associate head coach Ruben Volta said.

Three members of the volleyball roster were named to the all-tournament team, including seniors Missie Stidham, Lindsay Haupt and Michelle Franz. Stidham took home the award for tournament MVP.

Stidham also earned the Big Sky Conference’s Newcomer of the Year award. This was Stidham’s first year with the Hornets after transferring from St. Mary’s.

The victory hit another milestone as this was the last home game for Colberg. Earlier this year she announced her retirement and that the 2007 season would be her last.

Volta is to take over head coaching duties in the 2008 season.

Stidham recognized that the end of the season was all about Colberg.

“I think this last game we wanted to play for her. It is her last home game so we just bonded together and we did it for Debby. This was for her,” Stidham said.

Alicia de la Garza can be reached at [email protected]