Feb. 6, 2002
Success didn't come easily for Sarah Watkins.
Sarah knew earning a scholarship to attend Siena out of tiny Canastota, New York would be a stretch, and quickly realized she would need to showcase her ability somewhere else to stand any chance. Coaches had told her she would need to play club volleyball if she hoped to play for a major college. The only problem was the closest club team was nearly two hours away, just outside of Rochester.
"My mom would drive me out there two or three times a week just so that I would have a chance to catch someone's attention," Watkins said. That someone was the Siena coaching staff, who provided Watkins with a dream opportunity.
The combination of academic and athletic excellence at Siena caught her eye. "More than the reputation for outstanding volleyball, I wanted to come to Siena because of the people who I met and the opportunities a degree from the school would provide. From the coaching staff down through the players, I was amazed by the family atmosphere and encouraged by the success of the program's alumnae." 
Sarah has left her own legacy with the Green and Gold. After entering the program as a back-up her freshman season, she developed her game to the point where she could challenge for a starting spot. Once she earned it, she never looked back. On October 17, she became the most productive setter in Siena's storied volleyball history. Other athletic achievements include All-MAAC Tournament Team 1999, All-Stony Brook Invitational 2001, and most recently, Watkins was named to the 2001 All-MAAC Team. But these honors don't begin to tell the full story, and didn't come without challenges.
Following her sophomore season, Watkins suffered a major emotional setback, as her Canastota home burned to the ground on Thanksgiving Day. Lost among the ashes were countless belongings, but more importantly, childhood memories. For support, she turned back to the volleyball program. "Things would have been a lot more difficult, if it weren't for my teammates and the coaching staff. They were there for me every step of the way, to help me get through it and remind me of what was really important."
She has managed to get through it and shine.
Respected as much by her professors as her coaching staff and peers, Watkins has excelled in the classroom as well. September's Leo Dufort Student-Athlete of the Month, Watkins, who carries a 3.4 GPA in History, was twice named to the MAAC All-Academic Team and was nominated as a CoSIDA Vorizon Academic All-American.
"Sarah has simply been a pleasure to coach," Coach Racey says. "She is the type of student-athlete coaches dream of-and the type we aspire to bring to Siena. When I think of Siena volleyball, I think of Sarah."
- Jason Rich
