{"id":424,"date":"2023-09-22T22:06:04","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T22:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wonderslist.com\/sports\/?p=424"},"modified":"2023-09-22T22:06:04","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T22:06:04","slug":"sarah-sponcil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wonderslist.com\/sports\/sarah-sponcil\/","title":{"rendered":"Sarah Sponcil: Rising Star in American Beach Volleyball"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sarah Sponcil: Hometown Hero Turned Olympic Athlete<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sarah Marie Sponcil, a native of Phoenix, Arizona, has emerged as a rising star in the world of American beach volleyball. Standing at 5’9″ with a birthday on August 16, 1996, Sarah’s journey in the sport has been nothing short of remarkable. From her early days hitting the dirt courts of Phoenix to her collegiate success at UCLA, her partnership with fellow athlete Kelly Claes, and her Olympic qualification, Sarah Sponcil’s story is one of determination, talent, and passion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sarah<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Early Beginnings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sarah’s love for beach volleyball was ignited at the young age of 8, when she first set foot on the sandy courts of Phoenix. This early connection to the sport became the foundation for her incredible journey in the world of volleyball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sarah<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Collegiate Excellence at UCLA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After spending three seasons splitting her time between indoor and beach volleyball at LMU (Loyola Marymount University), Sarah Sponcil transferred to UCLA. Her arrival at UCLA was nothing short of transformative, as she played a pivotal role in leading the Bruins to their first and only National Championships in 2018 and 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sarah-Sponcil<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

During her time at UCLA, Sarah established herself as one of the best collegiate defenders in the sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sarah<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Dynamic Duo: Sarah and Kelly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the defining moments in Sarah Sponcil’s career came when she partnered with Kelly Claes, a rival from USC. The pairing of Sarah and Kelly proved to be a stroke of genius, as they quickly became a dominant force in both the AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) and the World Tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sarah<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Their partnership was marked by immediate and astounding success, and they earned recognition as one of the most formidable teams in beach volleyball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Olympic Dream Realized<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sarah and Kelly’s journey to the Olympics was anything but easy. Initially considered underdogs, they faced a daunting challenge of securing an Olympic berth. However, in a stunning turn of events during the eleventh hour of the Tokyo Olympic qualification period, the duo known as “Team Slaes” defied the odds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sarah<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

They won the final two FIVB events and secured their place in the Olympics, becoming the youngest team in history to represent the USA in beach volleyball. Though they finished 9th, their journey to the Olympics remains an inspirational tale of perseverance and determination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Life Beyond Volleyball<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While volleyball is undoubtedly a significant part of Sarah Sponcil’s life, she has a diverse range of interests and hobbies. Often, you can find her laughing with friends and family, riding a unicycle, or indulging in guilty pleasures like watching “The Bachelor.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A post shared by Sarah Sponcil (@smsponcil)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>