Team by team capsules
Following, in order of seeding, is a brief look at the six teams competing in this year’s Big Sky Conference Volleyball Tournament at Eastern Washington University:
Eastern Washington Eagles
Record: 19-7 overall, 12-2 Big sky
Coach: Wade Benson (151-42 at EWU, same overall)
Players to watch: Keva Sonderen (.335 hitting pct., 3.30 kpg, 1.04 bpg); Ashley Jensen (.298 hitting pct.); Christina Albers (11.98 apg); Lizzy Mellor (3.47 kpg); Andrea Verdoljack (4.66 apg).
Outlook: The Eagles haven’t lost at home all year and boast the Big Sky’s most valuable player in Sonderen. But they failed to take advantage of a similar situation each of the past two years.
Sacramento State Hornets
Record: 23-7 overall, 11-3 Big Sky
Coach: Debbie Colberg (203-88 at SSU, 736-266 overall)
Players to watch: Emily Wilson (.314 hitting pct., 1.41 bpg, 2.61 kpg); Lindsey Haupt (.301 hitting pct.): Sandra Bandimere (4.38 kpg, 4.01 dpg); Stephanie Gamst (12.02 apg).
Outlook: The Hornets didn’t put up much of a fight in losing to Eastern 3-1 at Reese Court earlier this month, but they seem to have a way of rising to all challenges come tournament time.
Montana State Bobcats
Record: 18-7 overall, 10-4 Big Sky
Coach: Miya Malauulu (151-42 at MSU, same overall)
Players to watch: Megan Zanto (.322 hitting pct., 1.53 bpg, 3.41 kpg); Kamber Kelly (.310 hitting pct., 11.26 apg); Kim Stonehouse (3.31 kpg); Kandice Kelly (4.63 dpg).
Outlook: The Bobcats come in on a confidence high after sweeping Eastern at home last weekend. Now they need to maintain that momentum and prove they are more than annual pretenders for the Big Sky crown.
Idaho State Bengals
Record: 12-16 overall, 8-6 Big Sky
Coach: Mike Welch (62-82 at ISU, 237-200 overall)
Players to watch: Martha Brinton (.276 hitting pct., 6.8 apg); Kami Olson (.251 hitting pct., 1.28 bpg); Nikki Randall (3.19 kpg); Ali Gorny (3.10 kpg), Ashley VanderBloomen (4.49 kpg).
Outlook: The Bengals had hoped to make more noise during the regular season but had trouble winning on the road. Still, if they peak this weekend, they have a chance to spring a couple of major upsets.
Portland State Vikings
Record: 13-14 overall, 5-9 Big Sky
Coach: Jeff Mozzochi (43-58 at PSU, 424-225 overall)
Players to watch: Lisa Thomas (.332 hitting pct.); Jessica Brodie (4.05 kpg, 3.88 dpg); Michelle Robertson (.94 bpg); Melissa Osterloh (3.44 kpg); Rachel Stevens (12.81 apg).
Outlook: The Vikings also hope to ease the sting of their poor regular-season showing with a decent run in the tournament. But they come having lost three consecutive matches and five of their last seven.
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
Record: 7-18 overall, 4-10 Big Sky
Coach: Chris Campbell (7-18 at NAU; 65-83 overall)
Players to watch: Kailee Savage (.191 hitting pct.); Renee Lathrop (.189 hitting pct., .96 bpg); Ellie Butterfield (4.41 kpg); Kelly Verboom (9.97 apg).
Outlook: As the last team in, the Lumberjacks are a decided long shot, even to make it past tonight’s opening round. But there is a reason they play the matches rather than just mailing in the results.