USC Athletics

2021 
Sarah Nelson is a graduate setter for the Women of Troy.
 
2020 · PLAYED SPRING 2021 
Following her transfer from Duke, Nelson played in six matches with two starts and appeared in 18 sets… finished with 101 assists (5.61 aps), 19 digs, three blocks, three service aces, and three kills.
 
2019 DUKE
As a redshirt junior, Nelson was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll… moved into 14th all-time in program history for career assists (1,373)… left Duke with 450 career digs… appeared in 27 matches and 82 sets… Duke Invitational All-Tournament Team… totaled 455 assists and 166 digs… led the team in assists (5.55 aps)… produced seven double-doubles to rank second on the team… 0.21 service aces per set ranked second on the team (17 aces)… recorded double-digit assists in 23 matches and had nine 20-assist outings… logged a season-high 35 assists against Clemson (Oct. 18) and a season-high 18 digs against North Carolina State (Nov. 10).
 
2018 DUKE
As a redshirt sophomore, Nelson was chosen to the ACC Academic Honor Roll… appeared in 19 matches and played 60 sets… helped the Blue Devils to their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2014… appeared in 51 sets during 15 of Duke’s final 16 matches and helped the team rank in the top four in the ACC in kills and assists… totaled 302 assists and 87 digs… reached double-digit assists in 14 matches with eight 20-assist contests… recorded season highs of 29 assists and 12 digs at North Carolina State (Nov. 4).
 
2017 DUKE
As a redshirt freshman, Nelson was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll… appeared in 30 of 31 matches and played in 111 sets… ranked third in program history among freshmen setters for sets played and was sixth in total assists (616)… finished with 197 digs… helped Duke ranked in the ACC’s top five for kills and assists per set… ranked second on the team in service aces (18)… produced six double-doubles to rank second on the team… posted double-digit assists in 28 matches and had 17 20-assist matches… posted a season-high 42 assists against Louisville (Nov. 5) and a season-high 14 digs against Georgia Tech (Oct. 27). 
 
2016 DUKE
Nelson did not play her true freshman season at Duke.
 
HIGH SCHOOL
Nelson was a three-year letterwinner at Los Gatos High School in Los Gatos, Calif., under head coach Joe Ripp… 2015 Santa Clara Valley Athletic League Senior of the Year… two-time San Jose Mercury News All-Area Team honorable mention… two-time Santa Clara Valley Athletic League first-team selection… a two-year team captain… totaled 948 assists (11.7 aps) as a senior, with 147 digs, 72 kills, and 35 service aces… produced three 60-assist matches in her career and broke the 30-assist mark in 35 contests… as a junior, posted 1,077 assists, with 159 digs, 82 kills, and 31 aces… two-time Los Gatos High School Athlete of the Year… also lettered in basketball and played premier club soccer… in basketball, was the 2016 Santa Clara Valley Athletic League MVP and a three-time All-SCVA selection… two-time San Jose Mercury News Basketball All-Area Team… led LGHS basketball to the Northern California Division II State semifinal as a senior.
 
CLUB VOLLEYBALL
Nelson played four years for Vision Volleyball Club… helped Vision U18 Blue team win the 2016 Pacific Northwest Qualifier; and participated in the 2016 USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships… also played for the Main Beach Volleyball Club beach team and was a semifinalist in the 2015 USAV U18 Junior Beach Tour NorCal Grand Slam.
 
PERSONAL
Sarah Elizabeth Nelson was born on Jan. 31, 1998, in Genolier, Switzerland… parents are Tim and Kelli Nelson… has one brother (Robert) and one sister (Nicole)… brother Robert is a quarterback at Duke… graduated from Duke with a bachelor of science in economics and a minor in psychology… recognized as a Rubenstein-Bing Athletic Civic Engagement (ACE) scholarship winner and a three-year ACTION Mentor… lists pro surfer Bethany Hamilton as her biggest sports inspiration… enjoys traveling, hiking, and oil painting… member of Athletes in Action… enrolled in the USC Marshall School of Business master of science program in social entrepreneurship.