Sacramento State’s women’s volleyball team is approaching this season with fortitude, determination and aggression.

The Hornets were picked sixth in the nine-team Big Sky Conference Preseason Coach’s poll that came out on Aug. 11.

Sac State has been a powerhouse in women’s volleyball for years, but last season the Hornets went 10-23. Sac State is excited to rebound from the growing pains they had to learn from last season in order to return to glory. Last year was head coach Ruben Volta’s first season as the helm for the Hornets as long time coach Debby Colberg retired after 32 seasons at Sac State.

“Last year we were new, we were kind of nervous, we didn’t know what was going to happen. We lost our entire offense,” said Desiree Hoyum, senior kinesiology major.

“The team has no plans on giving up. We have analyzed last season and distinguished our weaknesses from our strengths. We have put a lot of focus on our weaknesses, and we have been taking steps towards building a solid foundation aiming to return to the leading spot (in the Big Sky Conference) where we are most comfortable,” Hoyum said.

Volta feels that with the talent on his squad this season and some hard work, there is no reason why Sac State cannot return to championship form soon.

“Last year we were really young; of our seven starters, essentially five people were new (to the team) last year. We return a lot of players from last year which is helping, so any experience is going to help us over the next couple of years,” he said.

“Last year was a wake up call for us,” said Melissa Melcher, senior sociology major.

The Hornets competed in the Syracuse Big Orange Tournament on Aug. 28-29.

Sac State returned home with a 2-1 record under its belt.

“This tournament was good for our team to gain some confidence. We played really well and I am happy with our effort,” said Maddison Thiverge, kinesiology major. “It was a good tournament for us, we really competed. Of course we would have loved to have (won the tournament) but I am proud of us. It pumps me up to win the whole tournament next time.”

“All of the practices, reviewing games from last season and building on weaknesses is proving to be successful, thus far,” Volta said.

The Hornets know that this is the time to prove themselves to the Big Sky, to the community and to their non-conference opponents.

Although they were picked to finish sixth in the Big Sky Conference by the coaches within the conference, Volta feels his team has been working hard, and they plan on surpassing those limited expectations.

“All of the practices, reviewing games from last season and building on our weaknesses is proving to be successful, thus far,” he said.

“People think we are (the sixth best team in the conference) and maybe we kind of deserve to be sixth based off of last year. It is such great motivation for us this year to come (at the Big Sky Conference) harder,” Melcher said.

Volta has far too many other things to worry about than a preseason ranking. His attention is far from the Big Sky Preseason Coach’s poll.

“To be honest, I don’t really pay that much attention to the poll. I have seen it and I have read about it, but it doesn’t mean a whole lot to me. It is going to mean a whole lot more to me whether we win or lose our matches,” he said.

Volta’s main focus is the team’s progression. He wants the team to be united, focused and willing to work hard. The team has created an approach for winning entering the season. Each and every player is strictly abiding by the plan.

“There are four new recruits who are going be a big asset to the team. Hannah Hettinga, Sydney Kordic and Shannon Wilson are all very skilled players who bring a little something different to the squad,” Volta said.

Volta is excited the more veteran girls on the team have taken some of the younger girls under their wing.

“Our outside hitter Janelle (Currey) brings not just skill, but a great attitude onto the court. She has the confidence of a senior but she is just a freshman. That is really great to see,” Melcher said.

Currey is not the only girl on the team with that type of attitude. Hettinga’s motivation and determination to do all that she can do to help the team has raised the bar for everyone else on the squad to do the same.

“Hannah (Hettinga) gives our team a good competitor every time she steps out on the court to play. She is going to be an awesome setter for us the next three years,” Melcher said.

Volta feels Currey, Hettinga, Kordic and Wilson will be great ball-handlers.

“That is a big benefit and positive addition to the team,” Volta said.

“The incoming freshmen bring a lot of maturity onto the court. Usually freshmen come in and they have to be taught (how to be a mature player),” Melcher said.

The Hornets hosted the Sac State Invitational last Friday and Saturday. Sac State went 0-3 in the tournament. Santa Clara, who the Hornets lost to Saturday night 3-2, won the Invitational by going 3-0.

Poettic Reid can be reached at [email protected]