Editor’s Note: The print version of this article erroneously stated that nine players returning to the team next year when there are actually 11 players returning next year. The State Hornet apologizes for the error.

The Sacramento State Volleyball team lost to the Northern Colorado Bears 3-1 (25-23, 18-25, 25-15, 25-15) Nov. 28 ending their six-year streak of Big Sky Conference Volleyball Tournament championship wins.

Prior to the Hornets’ quarterfinal loss at Stott Center in Portland State, the team has won the Big Sky Tournament each year since 2002 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament every year since 2001. Since joining the Conference in 1996, the Hornets reached the Big Sky Tournament every year but 1999. Also, the Hornets over the past 11 years earned either Big Sky regular season titles and/or tournament titles.

The Hornets were the No. 6 seed this year in the Tournament with an overall record of 10-23. This marks the Hornets’ first season finishing below .500 since 1991 and also their first season where the team has won less than 20 games in a season. The Hornets now a 20-4 post season record.

The Bears, who are the No. 3 seed with a 17-9 record, are 3-0 against the Hornets this year. The Bears advanced to the semifinals and lost to the Portland State Vikings and the Vikings ended up defeating No. 1 Eastern Washington to win the Big Sky Tournament.

During the match, the Hornets had a chance to win the first set after making a comeback attempt from being down 19-14 to tie the score 23-23. The Bears then received a kill from Taylor Smith and a solo block from Lauren Carter to win the set 25-23. The Hornets took control of the second set but the Bears dominated the third and fourth sets.

The Hornets had a low hitting percentage of .148 during that match. Although the team improved their percentage to .302 in the second set, things went downhill for the Hornets. The team’s hitting percentage was a .025 in the third set and -.029 in the fourth.

Sophomore middle hitter Maddison Thivierge led the Hornets with 12 kills, four blocks and a hitting percentage of .435. She had only two errors within 23 attacks and she had the best hitting percentage, 224 points over every other Hornet that day. Junior Desiree Hoyum and Freshman Eryn Kirby posted double doubles, Hoyum with 13 kills, 16 digs and Kirby with 12 kills and 14 digs. Thivierge, Hoyum and Kirby were the only Hornets who had more than four kills.

Senior Libero Katie Van Der Wende led the Hornets with 21 digs.

The Bears had an average hitting percentage of .253 during the match and had 12 more total kills and 13 more total digs during the match. Three Bears had over 10 kills, Kenzie Sheerve with 16, Taylor Smith and Allison Raguse both with 13 kills.

Eleven of the 14 Hornet players will return next year. Exception include seniors Rose Burke, Brittany Ferguson and Der Wende. Nick Hunte can be reached at [email protected]