Volleyball Standout Sarah Maher of Emory Earns Prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

Volleyball Standout Sarah Maher of Emory Earns Prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

From Emory University Athletics

Emory University volleyball senior Sarah Maher has been awarded the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, bestowed upon student-athletes who excel academically and athletically, while also serving as leaders in the community.

Maher will each receive a one-time $7,500 scholarship, to be used for postgraduate study within three years. Emory has now been awarded 104 postgraduate scholarships over the school's history, and its 87 since 2000 is second only to Stanford for the highest total by any NCAA member.  

A native of Orange, California, Maher enjoyed an excellent four-year career, which culminated with her selection as a 2016 First Team All-American as chosen by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). It represented the third time that she had been recognized for All-America acclaim having garnered third-team recognition in 2015 and honorable-mention status as a sophomore.

Maher's stellar all-around play was a key cog in the team's success this past season, with the 6-foot right side placing second on the squad in kills (288), third in kills average (2.25 kps), third in attack percentage (.267, 12th in the University Athletic Association) and third in digs average (2.86 dps, 15th in the UAA). A First-Team All-UAA selection in 2016 after landing back-to-back second-team honors, Maher chalked up 11matches of double-figure terminations and 18 performances of 10 or more digs. Career-wise, Maher ranks prominently in a number of Emory's all-time categories including kills (13th, 1,150), hitting percentage (18th, .288) and digs (17th, 925). During her stint as an Eagle, she was part of the program that secured 140 victories, two UAA titles, four trips to the NCAA Tournament and two berths in the national semifinals, including a runner-up finish in 2014. A business administration major who will graduate in May, Maher posts a grade-point average of 3.49.

Maher is the fourth volleyball player in school history to be awarded the scholarship and first since 2008 (Dani Huffman). Other past volleyball recipients include Megan Williams (2000) and Laura Helton (1995).

A total of 174 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships are awarded annually, 87 for men and 87 for women. Fifty-eight (29 men, 29 women) scholarships are announced after each fall, winter and sports season and stretch across NCAA Division I, II and III institutions.