A great deal of responsibility is given to anyone with the title senior in front of their name for a multitude of reasons. Younger players on a team look up to the seniors like a child looks up to their parent. On the volleyball team this is no different, with some of the leadership falling on the shoulders of senior Sarah Streib.
Streib, an outside hitter on the volleyball team, knows the responsibility that head coach Jim Lodes has left in her hands.
"I just do my best to be here for the team," Streib said. "I feel like they can come talk to me if anyone needs anything. I work hard everyday in practice and I try to be that person they can look to on the court when things get rough. I just try to do my best."
Streib thanks her family for influencing her life and helping her get to this point.
"My parents and my brother were huge influences on me," Streib said. "My brother is four years older than me so I watched him play sports and watched how he handled it, which was huge. My parents were super supportive the whole time. I've been playing sports since I was little so my family has been huge for me."
Throughout her younger years, Streib also played tennis, softball and figure skated for ten years. Nonetheless, her true passion was always on the court.
"I just fell in love with volleyball," Streib said. "It was just fun, a different kind of fun than any sport that I had ever played. I find myself never complaining about going to volleyball practice where if I had to go play softball I would be like, 'Ugh, I have to go play softball and pitch for two hours.' I never complained about volleyball, I simply fell in love with it."
At Baker High School, Streib led her team to three league, sectional and regional championship titles, thanks to her position as a team-tri-captain. She also helped her teams accumulate records of 22-0 and 20-0 in her junior and senior year respectively.
On top of her role on her high school team, Streib also played for two club volleyball teams. Streib was a member of the Black Ic, coached by Erik Nicklaw, and the Baldwinsville Blast, where she learned from coach Mary Jo Cerqua.
After arriving at Buffalo, she continued to succeed on the court. Streib has played in over 180 volleyball games, as well as helped the Bulls by achieving over 150 kills. Streib also was a UB Scholar Athlete her first two years on the team, showing her passion not just on the court, but in her studies, as well.
Streib feels that her greatest athletic influence, high school and club volleyball coach Mary Jo Cerqua, brought her to this point in her life.
As the end of her career at Buffalo draws near, Streib has many goals that she hopes to achieve as she enters the world with her degree.
"I hopefully will go to grad school, and whether I want to go to PA school or pursue a program in genetic counseling." Streib said.
She hopes to earn her Master's degree in genetic counseling, with her background of majoring in biotechnology and psychology.
Until then, Streib, as well as the rest of the volleyball team hope to gain some ground in the Mid-American Conference and help bring a MAC Championship to Buffalo. But no matter what the outcome of their season might be, Streib has one message to the girls - have fun.
"Make the most out of these four years at college; it's an awesome time," Streib said. "Go out there and have fun and have no regrets, because these four years are the best four years of your life."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
