LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky volleyball head coach Craig Skinner has announced the addition of assistant coach Lauren Sauer to his staff. Sauer comes to UK after spending last season as a member of the Universidad de Almeria volleyball team in Almeria, Spain.
Prior to playing volleyball overseas, Sauer was a two-sport student-athlete at Georgia Tech. The Huntsville, Ala., native was a four-year letterwinner in volleyball and also spent one and a half seasons as a member of the Yellow Jacket basketball team.
“We are thrilled to have Lauren join our staff,” said Skinner. “She was an excellent player in college and that will help her relate to and coach our athletes as they strive to be the best. Her contagious and energetic personality will go a long way with our team and future recruits.”
Sauer was a four-year starter for the Georgia Tech volleyball team fro 2001-04. She earned AVCA honorable mention All-American honors in 2003 and was an AVCA District III All-region honoree in each of her final two seasons. Sauer was named All-ACC twice and helped her team to the first round of the NCAA Tournametn in 2001 and an ACC Tournament title and the second round in 2002. The Yellow Jackets won an ACC regular-season title in 2003 and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight. In her final season, Sauer was part of another ACC Championship while the team advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16.
"It is an honor to have the opportunity to work alongside Craig Skinner and Robbie Pulliza,” said Sauer. “Coach Skinner knows how to win at the highest level and I look forward to beginning my career with such a respected coach in the volleyball community. It is an exciting time to be a Kentucky Wildcat and I am thrilled to jump on board with this remarkable group of players and coaches.”
Sauer was named the 2001 ACC Rookie of the Year and is one of just two Yellow Jackets to earn the honor. She hit .944 in a match against NC State in 2002, which ranks second in the NCAA record books for hitting percentage in a match with 15 or more attempts.
Sauer finished her career ranked fourth on the Tech career kill list (1,706), second on the Tech career solo block list (99), fourth on the career kills per game list (3.60), seventh on the career total block list (368) and seventh on the career block assist list (269).
Sauer was an all-around student athlete at Georgia Tech, being named to the Dean's List as well as earning Academic All-ACC honors in 2005. She was named to the ACC All-Freshman team in 2001, the District III All-Academic Second Team in 2003 and 2004, and the ACC Honor Roll all four seasons.
Sauer received her bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Tech in December 2005. She continued to play basketball through March of that year. She worked for a marketing company before leaving to play volleyball for one year in Almeria, Spain.
