Special to the Ulysses News
Ulysses Historic Adobe Museum
As the 2024 Olympics plays out in France, it's a perfect time to reflect on the achievements of Sarah Noriega, a remarkable athlete from Ulysses who made her mark on the world stage as a starting player for the U.S. Volleyball team in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Daughter of Joe and Carol Noriega, Sarah's story is one of dedication, perseverance, and extraordinary success.
Sarah's journey in volleyball began in the late 1980s as a middle schooler. Reflecting on her early days, she recalled in an article by KSHSAA, "Everything was new, and I wasn't good at first," and added, "I was a tall, skinny, incoordinated girl and played on the C team and was barely playing." Despite these humble beginnings, Sarah's commitment to practice and improvement transformed her into a skilled player.
During her high school years, Sarah was coached by Courtney Eslick, who later described her as the best athlete he had ever coached. In her junior year, the Lady Tigers Volleyball team qualified for the 4A State tournament, though they did not advance to the Final 4. Sarah's potential was evident, and she was invited to join a club volleyball team in Great Bend. The club team would also qualify for the Junior Olympics, giving Sarah a pre-exposure to what was to come. This opportunity not only allowed her to refine her skills during the summer months, but also exposed her to college coaches, who began to take notice of her talent.
Graduating from Ulysses High School in 1994, Sarah continued her volleyball career at Loyola Marymount University in California. Unlike many schools, Loyola Marymount focused on its volleyball program, and during Sarah's time there, the team won three consecutive West Coast Conference championships. After college, Sarah for five years played professionally overseas. In her off season she coached a year at Ulysses High School, but soon realized that coaching did not ignite the same passion for her as playing had.
In 1998, Sarah was invited to try out for the U.S. Olympic Volleyball team by a coach she had met in high school. Prior to this, Sarah had also played in an Olympic festival, as well as the World University games. She successfully made the team as a right side starting player, and the team achieved notable victories over China, Kenya, and Croatia. The U.S. team ultimately finished fourth in the Sydney Olympics. Sarah's Olympic journey didn't end there; in 2008, she returned to the Beijing Olympics as an Athlete Liaison and later transitioned into a career in the healthcare field. Today, she lives in California with her family, having moved beyond the spotlight of her illustrious volleyball career.
In Ulysses, a highway sign proudly announces, "Home of Sarah Noriega, U.S. Volleyball Olympian," a tribute to her exceptional achievements. Among her accolades are being named the 1997 West Coast Player of the Year, earning a spot on the Volleyball Magazine All-American team, and being inducted into both the Loyola Marymount Hall of Fame (2008) and the Kansas Volleyball Hall of Fame (2012). Notably, Sarah set a NCAA record (which she still holds) for the most kills in a 4-set match with 47 kills in 1997 and led the National Kill Average with an impressive 6.90 in the same year. After completeing her degree, Loyola-Marymouth also hoored Sarah by retiring the #16 Volleyball jersey.
Sarah Noriega's story is a testament to the power of hard work and dedication. From her early days as a beginner on the C team to becoming an Olympic athlete, her journey inspires athletes everywhere to pursue their dreams with determination and resilience.
Note from the writer: I have a huge debt of gratitude to Carol and Sarah for their help in getting this article put together As well as Ginger Anthony for her input and memories of the events as related to Sarah's Olympic career.
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