A stellar senior season helped earn Riverside’s Sasha Stotler an opportunity to play Division I college volleyball.
Stotler, who stepped away from varsity volleyball as a junior to play golf, returned to the program this fall and was an integral factor in the Pirates’ Three Rivers Conference championship run.
Last week, Stotler signed a letter of intent to continue her career at West Virginia University.
“I chose WVU because of the wide variety of academic options, as well as the welcoming and loving environment of the coaching staff,” said Stotler. “I believe the sky is the limit with Coach (Reed) Sunahara.”
The 6-4 Stotler said she also considered Clemson, Northwestern, Maryland, Illinois, South Carolina and Cincinnati.
The senior middle blocker earned first-team all-TRC honors this fall for the Pirates. She ranked third in the conference in kills with 334 and second in blocks with 82.
Earning the opportunity to play in college has been a longtime goal of Stotler’s.
“It became a goal of mine my freshman year, once I developed a passion to succeed in the sport,” she said. “Since then, I have been living the dream.”
Stotler will lean on her desire to work hard and be a good leader as she prepares to play for the Mountaineers.
“I believe my leadership skills and work ethic will allow me to excel at the next level,” she said.
Stotler plans to be a predental major at WVU. She hopes to stand out both in the classroom and on the volleyball court.
“My goals are to have a successful and fun career while pursuing a degree for my dream profession,” she said.
At West Virginia, she will play for a veteran and well traveled coach in Sunahara.
A college player at UCLA, he has been a head coach at Toledo, Cincinnati and Buffalo prior to taking over at WVU in 2015. He also served as an assistant coach for the U.S. National Team in 2013.
The Mountaineers are currently 17-7 overall and 6-6 in the Big 12 this season.