The Sacramento State Volleyball team is counting on veteran leadership to carry it through the season.

In 2010, injuries plagued the Sac State volleyball team’s starting roster. The team went without a single active senior all season and, because of injuries, was mostly improvising at the setter and middle hitter positions.

Despite having a young team, the Hornets finished the season 15-17 overall and 8-8 in the Big Sky Conference.

But 2010 turned out to be the second time in school history the Hornets failed to reach the Big Sky Conference Tournament.

The Hornets are bringing back all six starters and 11 returners to complete the 15-person roster. Junior Janelle Currey put up good numbers last season and looks to continue her success.

Currey led the team in kills per set and total kills last season and she said the team will be ready for the challenge this fall.

Last season, as a sophomore, Currey earned second team all-Big Sky honors and this season is returning to bring the Hornets back to the conference tournament.

“Everyone has been here before, everyone’s been through this stuff, there’s not going to be any surprises.” Currey said. “We all know what we’re here to do and we’re here to win.”

Other returning contributors include seniors Eryn Kirby and Breanne Menees, who received honorable mention accolades, sophomores Kayla Beal and Katie Aprile and junior Olivia Moss.

Kelsey Elston, a 6-foot tall senior who led the team in 2010 with 1.06 blocks per set, is back for her fourth and final season as a Hornet.

The team finished with a dismal road record last season going 3-10 in away matches. Head coach Ruben Volta insists every match will need to be taken seriously.

“To us every match is big because it’s about how we want to perform every time we take the court,” Volta said. “Obviously, things become a lot more serious when we get into our conference play.”

Sac State plays its first game at home at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 2 against Fresno State University.

AJ Taylor can be reached at [email protected].