SACRAMENTO -- Three seniors were named all-Big Sky Conference today, including outside hitters Bridgette Smith and Caitlin Volkmann being named to the first team, and rightside hitter Ellie Tisko named second team.

The Hornets received three all-league honors after finishing the regular season with an 18-11 overall record and 11-5 conference mark. Sacramento State finished in a tie for second place in the conference standings, and will be the No. 3 seed at this week's Big Sky Tournament at the Nest.

Smith was named to the first team for the fourth straight year, becoming the first player in program history to be named first team on four occasions. Counting her pandemic season of 2020 when she was named to the second team, Smith is also the first player in school history to receive all-conference accolades on five occasions.

Volkmann was named to the first team for the first time in her career, and Tisko received second team honors for the second consecutive season.

Sacramento State, the No. 3 seed, opens Big Sky Tournament play on Wednesday by hosting No. 6 seed Portland State at 7 p.m. The single-elimination tournament runs three straight days (Nov. 27-29) with every match taking place in the Nest. As long as the Hornets remain in the tournament, they will be the 7 p.m. time slot each day. There are four quarterfinal matches Wednesday, two semifinals Thursday, and the championship on Friday.

Smith
• First four-time first team all-Big Sky selection in program history (2021-24)
• Also named second team in 2020, becoming the first five-time all-conference selection in school history
• Overall, she ranks first in the Big Sky in kills (4.04 kps), aces (0.62 aps) and points (4.81 pps)
• In conference play, she also ranks first in all three categories - 4.19 kps, 0.75 aps and 5.08 pps
• Also averaging 2.63 digs per set, and has 13 double-doubles
• Connected for double-figure kills 25 times this season, and 100 times during her career
• Posted at least 20 kills on eight occasions, including a career-high 27 in Saturday's win over Weber State
• Among the nation's leaders, she ranks fourth in aces (69), 22nd in points (539) and 30th in kills (453)
• Led the team in kills on 16 occasions, and has started every match this season
• Two-time Big Sky Player of the Week
• Currently has 1,752 career kills - just 16 shy of moving into second place in program history
• Also has 1,256 career digs, and her 206 aces are third all-time at Sacramento State
• Team captain

Volkmann
• Named first team all-Big Sky for the first time of her career
• Has tallied career highs in kills (423), digs (249) and points (482.5)
• Overall, among Big Sky leaders, she ranks third in kills (3.78 kps) and points (4.31 pps), and fifth in aces (0.34 aps)
• In conference play, among Big Sky leaders, she is second in kills (4.06 kps) and third in points (4.56 pps)
• Also averaging 2.22 digs per set, and has started every match this season
• Has tallied double figures in kills on 24 occasions this year, and 71 times during her career
• Also has seven double-doubles
• Has started 103 consecutive matches
• Enters Big Sky Tournament with 10+ kills in seven straight, and 16 of the last 17 matches
• 20+ kills on three occasions, including 20 in Saturday's win over Weber State
• Named Big Sky Player of the Week on Sept 9
• 1,410 career kills are the eighth best mark in program history
• Team captain

Tisko
• Named second team all-Big Sky for the second straight season
• One of four Hornets to appear in all 112 sets
• Starter in all 29 matches on the right side
• Ranks third on the team with 2.13 kills per set
• Also averaging 1.19 digs and 0.50 blocks per set
• In Big Sky play, she is hitting .276 with averages of 2.22 kills, 1.22 digs and 0.55 blocks per set
• Has connected for double figures in kills on 11 occasions, including three of the final four matches of the regular season
• Finished the regular season by hitting .300+ in seven of the last nine matches
• Also has 25 aces, and an average of 0.22 aces per set
• Has registered double figures in kills 30 times during her career
• Career numbers of 748 kills, 415 digs and 150 blocks