The 1989 volleyball team made history, winning its first Continental Divide Conference regular season championship with an overall record of 39-12 and 11-1 in the conference. It was Joan McDermott's second season as head coach and she was able to assemble a group transfer students and freshman for a winning combination that season – a well-balanced team with the unstoppable defense earned them induction to the 2014 Metro State Hall of Fame.

"In '88 we had an incredible setter, Verna Julaton, who graduated, so that was a critical piece for us to replace, because the setter is like the quarterback for the team. So, Sue Gillette came in, a transfer from the University of Colorado, and she was every bit as good as Verna," McDermott said. "Then we had to replace a middle blocker and that was Diane Dibble, and could play at a high level."

Diane Dibble [now Chrisman], a freshman middle blocker from Golden High School  said that even though she had limited playing time, it was the experience from that first season that set the tone for her continued success. 

"Playing with Becky Koefed, who was such a great competitor, and Heather Hotchkiss who was just so bubbly, and Sue Gillette who was so fast and so competitive, the whole group was so intensely competitive and so physically strong – it really set the stage for the rest of my career," Dibble said. "If I hadn't had that experience as a freshman, I don't think it would've pushed me to do what I was able to do those next couple of years."

Dibble's success included American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America second team and all-Region first team, as well as all-Colorado Athletic Conference first team , all accomplished in 1991.

The 1989 team had some of the most successful players in school history. Dibble and Kofoed are in the top 12 for most kills in school history and also hold spots in the top-10 in digs, total blocks, and points. Both Kofoed and Gillette earned All-America honors, while Nancy Kogle joined the pair on the first team all-conference squad.

"It was pretty amazing season because they accomplished so much so quickly – it really set the tone to continue with the success the program has today, and it's amazing that the program has sustained," McDermott said. "This team was a good group of players and it is great for them to be recognized for what they did."