Sarah Beth Noriega (Sulentor) (born April 24, 1976) is an American former volleyball player, a collegiate champion, and an Olympic athlete.[1][2][3]
| Sarah Noriega | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Sarah Beth Noriega Sulentor | ||
| Born | April 24, 1976 Ulysses, Kansas, U.S. | ||
| Height | 187 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| College / University | Loyola Marymount University | ||
| Volleyball information | |||
| Position | Opposite | ||
| Number | 16 (national team) 16 (Loyola Marymount University) | ||
| National team | |||
| |||
Early life
editNoriega graduated in 1994 from Ulysses High School, in the small town of Ulysses, Kansas. There, she played on the volleyball team under coach Courtney Eslick, who described her as the best athlete he had ever coached. Though her high school team did not win any major championships, Noriega became a three-time WAC all-conference athlete, and, while playing for Ulysses High School, was a two-time all-state selection. She helped win Program-of-the-Year honors for her school for the 1992–93 season from the Kansas Volleyball Association.[1][3]
Collegiate and beyond
editNoriega played for Loyola Marymount University from 1994 to 1997, helping lead the team to three consecutive WCC championships, and was named the 1997 West Coast Conference Player of the Year.[2][3]
Noriega played with the US National team, participating in the 1995 U.S. Olympic Festival, the World Games, the 2000 Olympics, and the 2002 World Championships.[3][2]
2000 Summer Olympics
editAt the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Noriega played for the United States national team as an "outside position player".[4] With her as a starting player, her team defeated the teams from China, Kenya and Croatia before facing the Australia team - with Noriega, by then, having competed in 108 international competitions and three world championships.[1][2][5] Noreiga also participated in the USA defeat of teams from South Korea and Australia; however, two losses to Brazil and one to Russia pushed the team just outside the medals, ranking fourth in the 2000 Olympics.[6][7]
Honors and awards
editCollegiate
edit- 1997 West Coast Conference (WCC) Player of the Year[2]
- 1997–98 school year: LMU's Female Athlete of the Year[2]
- All-District VIII honoree (three times)[2]
- AVCA First Team All-American[2]
- Volleyball Magazine All-American[2]
- 1998 (February) Volleyball Magazine National Player of the Month[2]
- All-West Coast Conference First Team selection (three-time)[2]
- 2007 (October 13) fifth volleyball player in LMU history to have her number retired[2]
- 2009 Loyola Marymount Hall of Fame[2]
Other
edit- 2000 U.S. Olympian
- 2012 Kansas Volleyball Association Hall of Fame[3]
Records and stats
editNCAA records:
- Most kills in a four-set match (47 kills on November 7, 1997, against San Diego)[2]
- 1997-1998 Senior year: 614 kills, and led the nation with a kill average of 6.90[2]
Loyola Marymount rankings, as of 2009:
- second in kill average (4.71)[2]
- third in attack percentage (.319)[2]
- third in one-year kills (614)[2]
- third in one-year kill average (6.90)[2]
- fourth all-time in kills (1,446)[2]
Extensive details on her performance stats are found at the Loyola Marymount Lions website, in the article about her induction to the LMU Hall of Fame.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c Landon, Jan (September 20, 2000). "In Ulysses, hometown pride swells to Olympic proportions". Topeka Capital-Journal. Archived from the original on February 27, 2001. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "The Road to the Hall: Sarah Noriega". Loyola Marymount University Athletics. January 20, 2009. Archived from the original on December 17, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Sarah (Noriega) Sulentor". Kansas Volleyball Association. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ "Plus: Volleyball; Final Cuts Made". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 28, 2000. p. D5. Retrieved January 15, 2018. (subscription required)
- ^ "Noriega finds Olympics thrilling, and is focused on win". The Augusta Chronicle. Morris News Service. September 22, 2000. Archived from the original on January 16, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ "Sarah Noriega". Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ Remuzzi, Mary M. (September 30, 2000). "Brazil Aces Young Americans". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 30, 2024. (subscription required)
External links
edit- Sarah Noriega at the European Volleyball Confederation
- Sarah Noriega at WorldofVolley
- Sarah Noriega at Lega Pallavolo Serie A Femminile (in Italian)
- Sarah Noriega at Olympedia
- Volleybox.net profile
