High School:
Four-year standout middle blocker at Cy-Woods High School • Coached by Ashley Ahlfinger • Paced the Wildcats with 423 kills and 50 total blocks as a senior in 2011 en route to her third all-district team designation • Registered a career-best 459 kills and tabbed as the team's most valuable hitter as a junior in 2010 • Four-time academic all-district selection • December high school graduate who began her studies at MSU in January • Played club volleyball five years with the Texas Tornadoes and Texas Pride, coached by Jeff Ham.

Personal:
Born Sarah Elizabeth Nielsen on July 9, 1994 in The Woodlands, Texas • Daughter of Tanya and Jared Nielsen of Cypress, Texas • Undecided on an academic major.