Marian University sophomore Monica Dreifuerst is planning to lead the school’s women’s volleyball program, the university reported.

Dreifuerst chose Marian University, thanks to the proximity to her home and the ability to stay connected to her high school team.

“I ultimately decided to come to Marian because I enjoyed the campus culture and small class sizes,” Dreifuerst said. “I really enjoyed talking to faculty and students during my visits and I felt welcomed every step of the way. I liked the idea of ‘Sabres Supporting Sabres,’ and the close relationships built between athletic teams.”

Dreifuerst was able to lend her skills to Marian’s team in 2019 and beat several records — 12 kills and 11 digs when playing Loras and 10 kills, 14 digs against Lake Forest. 

Dreifuerst has enjoyed the opportunity to travel while on the team, such as a recent trip to Denver for the Johnson & Wales Tournament. 

She scored 21 kills and 15 digs against the Red Hawks and eventually earned the NACC Player of the Week recognition. This is the first time since 2012 that a Sabre student-athlete has won the award, bringing prestige to both Dreifuerst and the school. 

Dreifuerst has season totals for her freshman year of 3.28 kills per set average and 2.94 digs per set, as well as 23 service acres, which is a team best score. 

The athlete has been grateful for the chance to meet so many new connections and to build new friendships in her short time at the school so far. 

“My favorite memory at Marian so far has just been meeting new people,” Dreifuerst said. “I was surprised by how quickly I made friends here and how close we became in such a short time. Every day I find myself making new memories no matter how simple they may seem.”