Sarah Ashley

Photo by: Tanner Ecker/UM Photo

Photo by: Tommy Martino

Sarah Ashley vs. Montana State - 2/15/21

Photo by: Todd Goodrich

Photo by: Derek Johnson

Sarah Ashley - Intrasquad scrimmage - 11/10/20

Photo by: Derek Johnson

Class:
Senior
Position:
Defensive Specialist
Height:
5-11
Hometown:
Helena, Mont.
High School:
Helena Capital H.S.

2023 (Senior): Academic All-Big Sky… appeared in 110 sets and every match for Montana… finished with 207 digs, the fifth-most on the team… averaged 1.88 digs per set… had 471 service receptions, the fourth-most on the team… .924 serve receive percentage… 27 service aces, fourth-most on Montana… 32 assists, third-most on Montana roster… had double-digit digs in seven of Montana’s 29 matches… season-high 16 digs at Northern Arizona (Oct. 7)… had 15 digs vs. New Mexico at the UND Classic (Sept. 8)… also had 15 digs vs. Eastern Washington (Oct. 14)… had multiple assists in six different matches… season-high five assists at Sacramento State (Oct. 19)… recorded four aces in five-set win vs. Binghamton (Aug. 31)… also had four aces vs. New Mexico (Sept. 8)…season-high four assists vs. South Dakota State (Sept. 14)… recorded 10-plus digs in three straight matches and four out of five overall in early September… had at least one ace in eight of the final 10 non-conference matches.

2022 (Junior): Montana’s Co-Most Improved Player… played in every match, starting 17 of them down the stretch after beginning the season coming off the bench… played in 105 total sets as a defensive specialist… 189 total digs to rank fourth on the team… averaged .180 digs per set… 17 service aces… 15 total assists… 344 receptions, the third most on Montana… increased her totals to 2.05 digs per set in conference matches… eight total matches with 10-plus digs on the season… season high of 15 digs was reached twice in a one week span, first in a five-set win over Northern Arizona (10/13) and again in a three-set loss to Weber State (10/20)… had double-digit digs in four matches out of seven the middle of conference play, and ended the regular season with back to back matches in double figures… had three kills on three attempts against UT Rio Grande Valley (9/10)… four aces in a four-set win over Portland State (11/3)… four matches with multiple set assists.

2021 (Sophomore): Academic All-Big Sky Conference... Was consistently used as a back-row defensive specialist, playing in 24 of 27 matches (89 of 102 sets) and earning nine starts... Accumulated 125 digs (1.40 per set), which ranked fifth on the team... Added 10 service aces (seventh) and an .859 serve-receive percentage while being targeted 220 times (fourth)... Was in double figures for digs three times, including a season-high 15 in a five-set win at Montana State (Oct. 26)... In that victory, she had zero receiving errors on 14 passes... Also totaled double-figure digs vs. Kennesaw State (10 on Aug. 28) and College of Charleston (10 on Aug. 29)... Had a service ace in seven different matches, including the first four to begin the season (Aug. 28-Sept. 1)... Tallied three aces vs. Eastern Michigan (Aug. 28) and two vs. College of Charleston (Aug. 29).

Spring 2021 (Freshman): Academic All-Big Sky Conference… Played in 11 of Montana’s 16 matches, starting two at defensive specialist and three more at libero… Despite coming to Montana as an outside hitter, became the Grizzlies’ emergency libero after starter Sarina Moreno went down with an ankle injury vs. Montana State (Feb. 14)… Became a spark off the bench as she finished with a team-most 13 digs and a career-high five service aces across parts of three sets… Twice served during 8-0 Montana runs vs. the Bobcats, including a Set-4 victory that turned a 12-12 tie into a 20-12 lead… She had four aces during that stretch alone… Finished the abbreviated season with 65 digs (1.71 per set), which ranked sixth on the team… Was in double figures for digs in all four matches at libero (Feb. 14-22), leading the Grizzlies all four times… Totaled a career-high 20 digs at Eastern Washington (Feb. 22)… Added 10 service aces and nine assists on the season… Her 0.26 aces-per-set average ranked second on the team… Had at least one ace in five consecutive matches (Feb. 14-28), capped with an ace in Montana’s five-set win over Idaho (Feb. 28)… Made her collegiate debut at Southern Utah (Feb. 8), recording four digs.

Career Highs (through 2021 season)
Kills: N/A
Attacks: 3, vs. Montana State (Feb. 14, 2021)
Hitting Percentage: N/A
Assists: 4, at Eastern Washington (Feb. 22, 2021)
Service Aces: 5, vs. Montana State (Feb. 14, 2021)
Digs: 20, at Eastern Washington (Feb. 22, 2021)
Blocks: N/A
Points: 5.0, vs. Montana State (Feb. 14, 2021)

High School: Is a 2020 graduate of Helena Capital High School in Helena, Montana… Holds Helena Capital records for career kills and kills in a season, while helping the Bruins to back-to-back Western Conference championships (2018, 2019) and a state title in 2018… Was a three-time all-state first-team selection (2017-19), also earning first-team all-conference honors all three seasons… Three-year captain… In addition to four varsity letters in volleyball, she also competed in basketball and track & field… Volleyball coach was Rebecca Cleveland… Played club volleyball for the Montana Volleyball Academy... Was a four-time Academic All-State honoree.

Personal: Born in Coon Rapids, Minnesota… Hometown is Helena, Montana… Parents are Tamara and Jeff Ashley… Both were collegiate athletes at the University of Jamestown, with Jeff playing baseball and football and Tamara participating in the high jump… Has a younger brother, Ryan… Was nominated for Montana's Athletics Diversity & Inclusion Committee in May 2022... Is majoring in integrative physiology.