Press Release courtesy of LSU Athletics.
LSU assistant volleyball coach Sarah Rumely, who was hired in February, was inducted into the University of Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame Friday evening.
“I am incredibly humbled and honored to be inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame,” said Rumely. “It is amazing to stand in the storied tradition of all of the athletes that have gone before me. The night was really special as I was surrounded by my family, friends and coaches, who helped shape my career and my life.”
Rumely played for the Wildcats in 2006-09 and is the only player in Kentucky volleyball history to be named SEC Freshman of the Year (2006) and SEC Player of the Year (2008). She earned two-time AVCA All-American, four-time All-SEC and Academic All-American Third Team honors.
“We played against her and she was one of the best that I have ever had to coach against,” said head coach Fran Flory. “When you have those opportunities to add those people to your staff, you jump at those opportunities.”
The New Palestine, Indiana native led her team to the NCAA tournament four times, including the Sweet 16 in 2009. She finished her career owning Kentucky’s records in career assists (5,703) and aces (165). Her career assist number is ranked fifth all-time in SEC history.
As a setter for the Wildcats, Rumely capped her career ranking in the top 10 in sets played (third), block assists (ninth), digs and attack percentage (10th). She is the only player to record a triple-double in a match in program history of 10 kills, 56 assists and 18 digs, which came against Ole Miss.
Rumely led her team to a No. 7 national ranking in 2009. Following her collegiate stint, Rumely played professionally overseas in the top division in France, Ligue A, as the starting setter for Nantes Volley Feminin. She led the team to their highest finish in that division up to that point.
As a proven recruiter, Rumely serves as the program’s recruiting coordinator. She also works directly with the setters where she mentors the setters and helps with developing their technical and tactical abilities within the game. Prior to coming to Baton Rouge, she made assistant stops at North Texas, Wake Forest and Arkansas.
For the Tigers, Rumely has already made her mark on the program, assisting the Tigers to their best record through 12 games (10-2) since the 2013 season.
“Sarah has revitalized us. She is a young, fresh, super high-energy, positive person,” said Flory. “She is a great mentor for our girls and quite honestly, for me as well. I don’t think I could have found a better match for what we needed. We are thankful and grateful for the fact that she is here and excited about the future that we have with her as our assistant.”
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