SACRAMENTO -- For the first time since the 2007 season, Sacramento State Volleyball will compete in the NCAA Tournament as selections for the 64-team field were made today.
The Hornets, who received an automatic berth after winning the Big Sky Conference Tournament championship, will travel to Maples Pavilion to take on 6th-ranked (and No. 5 overall seed) Stanford in the first round on Friday at 7 p.m. The other first round matchup in the four-team Stanford regional will feature Loyola Marymount facing Washington on Friday at 4:30 p.m. The winners of those matches will play in the second round in Maples Pavilion on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Traveling to Stanford for the NCAA Tournament is nothing new for the Hornets. This will be the team's fourth straight trip to Stanford for the NCAA Tournament, and sixth time in the team's last seven appearances the Hornets will travel to Maples Pavilion.
• Hornets will make their 21st NCAA Tournament appearance (11th at the Div. I level). Sacramento State joined the Div. I ranks in 1991
• First NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007
• Years the Hornets qualified for the NCAA Tournament at the Div. I level - 1997-00, 2002-07, 2024
• Hornets are 2-10 all-time in NCAA Div. I Tournament play, which included a 3-1 victory over Minnesota in the first round of the 2007 tournament at Stanford. Also beat Houston (3-0) in the first round in Stockton in 1998.
• Hornets will be playing Stanford for the fifth time in NCAA Tournament play (2002-03, 2006-07).
• Hornets advanced to NCAA Tournament by virtue of winning their 10th Big Sky Tournament title (1997-98, 2000, 2002-07, 2024)
• First Big Sky Tourney title since 2007
• Three wins in three days at the Big Sky Tournament - Wed vs Portland State (3-1), Thu vs Idaho State (3-0), Fri vs Northern Colorado (3-2)
• Dropped just three sets during the three-day, three-match event
• Will take a four-match winning streak into the NCAA Tournament, which includes a 3-2 home win over Weber State in the regular season finale.
HORNETS IN THE NCAA DIV. I TOURNAMENT
1997 - Seattle, Wash.
1st Round - lost to #7 Pacific, 3-1
1998 - Stockton, Calif.
1st Round - def. Houston, 3-0.
2nd Round - lost to #9 Pacific, 3-0
1999 - Los Angeles, Calif.
1st Round - lost to #22 Minnesota, 3-0
2000 - San Jose, Calif.
1st Round - lost to #4 Santa Clara, 3-0
2002 - Stanford, Calif.
1st Round - lost to #2 Stanford, 3-0
2003 - Stanford, Calif.
1st Round - lost to #5 Stanford, 3-0
2004 - Berkeley, Calif.
1st Round - lost to #14 Saint Mary's, 3-1
2005 - Stanford, Calif.
1st Round - lost to #15 Santa Clara, 3-1
2006 - Stanford, Calif.
1st Round - lost to #2 Stanford, 3-0
2007 - Stanford, Calif.
1st Round - def. Minnesota, 3-1
2nd Round - lost to #4 Stanford, 3-0
