ELLSWORTH, ME; February 23, 2015 — Ellsworth High School senior volleyball star Sarah Shelton has committed to play volleyball for the University of New Hampshire next fall. Shelton was named the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year for 2014 and is currently playing on the Maine Juniors 18 Gold National team as an Outside Hitter and Captain. Shelton is just the second volleyball player from Maine to sign a national letter of intent to play for a Division I college, and the only player to do so in the last decade. Ashley Marble, a standout at Woodland High School played for the University of Maine in the early 2000s.
The 6’1” Shelton is also a starting Outside Hitter and Captain for the Maine Junior 18 Gold volleyball team. The team travels both regionally and nationally between November and June each year. The team is comprised of only the top volleyball talent in the state and will travel this year to Atlanta and Orlando to compete. Maine Juniors 18 Gold Head Coach Andy Pohl said, “I’ve been privileged to be able to coach Sarah. She is one of the hardest working athletes I’ve coached with a commitment to the team that exceeds all expectations.” The Maine Juniors Club is located in the Greater Portland area, but draws interest from the entire state. The team practices twice a week and for the past two years, Sarah has been commuting 2 hours each way for practice. Pohl said, “The level of commitment to the sport that Sarah, and her parents, have shown is incredible. I am thrilled to see it paying off for them. Sarah has been given an opportunity that many in Maine can only dream of. Her hard work has paid off.”
Shelton’s talents are not limited to the volleyball court. Amidst all of the time spent in the gym, she maintains a 3.65 GPA in the classroom and is in the top 10% of her class.
FMI: Andrew Pohl; Maine Juniors U-18 Girls Volleyball Head Coach: coachandypohl@gmail.com 207-650-3445
