By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer PELHAM— Since she was in fifth grade, Sarah Sudd has been playing volleyball. She started at the YMCA and gradually progressed up the ladder to Pelham High School’s varsity team. After all her hard work and dedication to the sport, the 6-foot, right side hitter committed to play volleyball for Birmingham Southern at a Feb. 29 Signing Day celebration. Sudd laughed as she described what is was like signing her National Letter of Intent to play volleyball at the collegiate level, calling it a “crazy” moment. “As soon as I picked up the pen, it felt like nothing else mattered,” Sudd said. “I was just there, and I couldn’t hear anything… I was taking deep breath and knowing this is the next chapter, and I am so ready to start.”

To describe her new coaches, teammates and school in one word, Sudd called it family. After visiting the college campus, Sudd said all the people she met—from coaches to professors to peers—made Birmingham Southern feel like home. There is nothing more in a college Sudd could have hoped for, she said, and she felt like everything fell into place for her. “I love the team and the coaches,” Sudd said. “It’s amazing.” About 25 people filled the cafeteria of Pelham High School Feb. 29 to celebrate Sudd’s accomplishment. Head coach Perry Robinson and the rest of the coaching staff were also there to recognize her. “It was an indescribable feeling just having all my family, friends and coaches there to support me,” she said. “It was an amazing experience.” Sudd’s freshman year at Pelham High School was also the coaching staff’s first year with the team, so she said they all had the same journey at the same time. The coaches were all excited for Sudd’s opportunity as well, she said. The head coach for Birmingham Southern’s volley program, Jeff White, was a coach for the club Sudd played for this season. Although he coached a different team, Sudd said White saw her play on her good and bad days. Knowing that White wanted to recruit her after watching her play the season made the moment even better, Sudd said. For now, Sudd is looking forward to attending Birmingham Southern in the fall. “I’m looking forward to anything really,” she said. “Probably playing at this next level and with this team (the most). I feel so much his going to be accomplished, and I can’t wait to see what we will do this upcoming fall.”