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Kirkwood Joins NYU Volleyball Staff
Sarah
Kirkwood has been hired by New York University as a
women's volleyball assistant coach. She will aid with the Violets'
scouting, training and in-match strategy.
Kirkwood comes to NYU after serving as a graduate assistant at the
University of Virginia for the 2009-10 season and with several
years of experience coaching camps in both Charlottesville and
Tampa, FL.
“I am extremely excited to be joining the NYU athletics
community,” commented Kirkwood. “I look forward to
working under Coach Ward and bringing my own style and experience
to help the NYU volleyball program reach its full
potential.”
A 2008 graduate of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in
cognitive science and a pre-medicine concentration in neuroscience,
Kirkwood had one of the most outstanding volleyball careers in
Cavalier history at outside hitter. She established team records
for career kills, kills per set and service aces, and graduated
ranked sixth all-time in hitting percentage and eighth in digs.
During her time at Virginia, Kirkwood racked up numerous
accolades. She was an American Volleyball Coaches Association
(AVCA) Honorable Mention All-American as a sophomore and senior, as
well as a two-time ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American –
including receiving First Team honors her junior year.
A two-year team captain, Kirkwood was also selected All-Atlantic
Coast Conference (ACC) each of her four years and was named ACC
Freshman of the Year in 2004. She was a three-time Virginia Sports
Information Directors (VaSID) Player of the Year.
Off the court, Kirkwood received the Thomas Rodney Crowley, Jr.
Scholarship and the Ralph Sampson Scholarship Award. She was also a
finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship.
Following graduation, Kirkwood continued her career
professionally. She had stints in the Association of Volleyball
Professionals in Los Angeles, ICOT Volleyball 2002 in Italy and
Valencianas Volleyball in Puerto Rico.
“Sarah is an exceptional addition to the coaching
staff,” said NYU head coach Jolie
Ward. “Her level of playing experience will provide
the program with valuable insight to game strategies and skill
development.
“I also believe she is an excellent role model for our
student-athletes,” Ward added. “A former outstanding
student-athlete herself, she can relate to the challenges that
these students face and the choices they must make in their college
selection and during the course of their collegiate
careers.”
Kirkwood earned her Master of Science degree in commerce with a
concentration in financial services from Virginia in 2010.
A native of Tampa, FL, Kirkwood resides in Manhattan.
