Fans at Colberg Court erupted with cheers Saturday afternoon after the Sacramento State volleyball team swept Weber State in three sets to continue an eight-game winning streak on senior night.
Not only does this sweep (25-19, 25-21, 25-19) set the Hornets up as the No. 2 seed entering the Big Sky Tournament on Nov. 17, but it also marks the end of four seniors’ regular season collegiate careers.
“It doesn’t feel real,” Sac State senior outside hitter Madeline Cannon said. “I think maybe after next week it will hit me that this was our last home game and the last time I’m ever going to play in this gym. It just went by too fast.”
Cannon’s four-year career as a middle blocker and later an outside hitter has left her with an appreciation for her team, school and hometown of Sacramento.
“I had a great opportunity to play when I got here,” Cannon said after posting nine kills and a five blocks. “Besides playing I’ve gotten a great education, my family is here, and Sacramento itself is everything I’ve needed.”
Cannon is joined by senior middle blocker Courtney Dietrich, libero Lexie Skalbeck and outside hitter Morgan Stanley in exiting the Hornet volleyball roster. Aside from playing in her final home game, Stanley also hit another personal milestone with her 1000th kill in set three against the Weber State Wildcats.
“I’ve been waiting for it all year,” Stanley said after finishing the night with 19 kills. “It’s been something I’ve been working towards so it felt really good that I finally accomplished it.”
Playing for the Hornets since 2012, Stanley also experienced the “bittersweet” end to her collegiate career in which she expressed gratitude to her coach and teammates.
“I owe all my credit to them,” Stanley said. “They make me practice hard and I am the player I am because of them.”
As the Hornets prepare for the Big Sky Tournament next week, head coach Ruben Volta said he is confident that his athletes are doing what they need to be successful. After this four-day conference competition hosted by the University of North Dakota, Volta will then say goodbye to his seniors.
“I’m just proud of all four of them,” Volta said. “They’ve put so much into our program, working hard and being really good teammates. They’re certainly going to be missed.”
Sac State will play Eastern Washington on Nov. 17 in the first round of the Big Sky Tournament.
