SACRAMENTO -- Already the Big Sky Conference MVP and an all-Pacific North Region honoree, senior outside hitter Bridgette Smith was named honorable mention All-America today by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

Smith becomes the first Hornet volleyball player to achieve All-America status since outside hitter Jill Haas was named to the second team in 1995 - seven years before Smith was born. Smith and Haas are the only two Hornets to receive All-America accolades during the program's Div. I era (1991-pres). Sacramento State had 17 All-Americans during the Div. II era.

Smith was the only player from the Big Sky named All-America, and she becomes just the fourth player in Big Sky history to receive the accolade. The last was Northern Colorado setter Syd Cole who was the recipient of honorable mention honors in 2022.

In addition, Smith became the Hornets' first Big Sky MVP since 2017, and first all-region performer since 2015.

The Salem, Ore., native helped lead the Hornets to a Big Sky Conference regular season championship, a 22-12 overall record, 13-3 conference mark, and 13-5 record at home. She was also named first team all-Big Sky, and was a huge part of a Sacramento State offense that ranked first in the conference. The Hornets advanced to the second round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC).

Bridgette Smith
• Finished season with averages of 3.65 kills, 2.35 digs, 0.29 aces and 4.20 points per set.
• In Big Sky play, she ranked second in the league in both kills (4.00 kps) and points (4.63 pps), and seventh in aces (0.33 per set)
• Registered double figures in kills in 18 of the team's 19 matches against a Big Sky opponent
• 13 straight matches with double-figure kills from Oct. 12-Nov. 23
• Started all 31 matches she appeared, and posted 12 double-doubles
• Eclipsed the 1,000 career kill mark during the season, and now has 1,299 career kills, and 962 digs
• First Sacramento State player to win Big Sky MVP honors since 2017 (Kennedy Kurtz)
• First Sacramento State outside hitter to earn first team all-Big Sky accolades on three occasions
• Four-time all-conference - second team in 2020; first team 2021-23

Despite being a senior, Smith has one more year of eligibility, and will return to play for the Hornets next season.