SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento State's varsity eight has been named the West Coast Conference Crew of the Week for the second time this season.

The Hornets' top boat, which also earned the honor on March 10, had a strong performance at last weekend's Big Ten Invitational at Lake Natoma.

The Hornets raced three times over two days among a field of 19 teams, eight of which were nationally ranked. Sacramento State more than held its own, beginning Saturday morning when the boat finished ahead of Wisconsin by more than eight seconds. 

On Saturday evening, the Hornets' top boat posted a season-best time of 6:36.34 over 2,000 meters, which was faster than Gonzaga. On Sunday morning, the Hornets, once again, beat a WCC crew, besting both San Diego and Wisconsin. 

Of the two WCC opponents Sacramento State faced, the Hornets beat both (Gonzaga, San Diego). Sacramento State used the same lineup in all three races, which was comprised of six seniors, two juniors and a sophomore.

The Hornets return to the water this weekend at the Triton Invitational in Chula Vista. Sacramento State will race a varsity eight, second varsity eight, varsity four and second varsity four at the event.

Sacramento State's lineup

cox - Manindar VerBrugge
stroke - Kaylee Godwin
7 - Katherine Macias
6 - Ella Holmes
5 - Daria Okhremtchuk
4 - Ruth Brooks
3 - Mackenzie Murray
2 - Nieka Marais
bow - Harper Waring