Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball versus Creighton (Exh.) on August 22, 2026 at 1 p.m. CT
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1 p.m. CT
Women's Volleyball
vs Creighton (Exh.)
2021 Volleyball Roster
Roster
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
Jersey Number 4
Sara Nielsen
- Position:
- Setter
- Height:
- 5-11
- Class:
- Fifth Year
- Hometown:
- Glen Ellyn, Ill.
- High School:
- Benet Academy
AWARDS & HONORS
- Ranks 15th in program history in career assists (849)
2020-21 (SENIOR)
- Played in eight matches with five starts at setter
- Tallied 161 assists with 43 digs
- Recorded a season-high 44 assists in season-opening victory over Baylor (Sept. 25)
- Seven matches with double-digit assists
2019 (JUNIOR)
- Played in all 26 matches as the setter and appeared in all 96 sets
- Led the team with eight double-doubles, including a 40 assist and 14 dig performance in the season finale against West Virginia Nov. 30, 2019
- 42 assists, 11 digs; vs South Carolina, 09/07/19
- 24 assists, 13 digs; MOREHEAD STATE, Sep 12, 2019
- 41 assists, 11 digs; at UNLV, 09-21-19
- 32 assists, 10 digs; at Oklahoma, Oct 05, 2019
- 44 assists, 13 digs; WVU, Oct 10, 2019
- 34 assists, 11 digs; at Texas, Nov 23, 2019
- 48 assists, 12 digs; IOWA STATE, Nov 27, 2019
- 40 assists, 14 digs; at WVU, Nov 30, 2019
- Recorded a season-high and career-high 48 assists against Iowa State Nov. 27, 2019
- Broke 40-or-more assists eight times and finished with 849 assists
2018 (SOPHOMORE | MINNESOTA)
- Academic All-Big Ten selection
- Saw action in 19 matches with 40 sets played in her sophomore season at Minnesota
- Finished with 18 assists, four service aces and seven digs
- Added two assists and first collegiate ace against North Carolina (8/25)
- Recorded five assists, an ace, block and dig in win over Georgia Southern (9/1)
- Season-high six assists vs. Maryland (9/22)
- Provided an ace and two assists in the win over Northwestern (10/3)
- Posted two digs in the win over Northwestern (1/13/18)
2017 (FRESHMAN | MINNESOTA)
- Saw action in four sets during her freshman season at Minnesota
- Made her collegiate debut in the 3-1 win over Louisville (8/26) and played in one set
- Saw action against Michigan State
- Recorded her first collegiate assist at Nebraska (9/29), finishing with three assists
- Matched a season-high three assists at Rutgers (10/28) and added a season-high two digs
High School/Club
- Played for Benet Academy and Mizuno Sports Performance Volleyball
- 2016 Under Armour All-America honorable mention
Ranked 69th in Prepvolleyball.com’s Senior Aces - First-team all-state selection
- Helped Benet to sectional and conference championships in 2015 and a regional championship in 2016
- All-conference selection in both 2016 and 2015 and honorable mention status as a sophomore
- Had 968 assists, 122 digs, 28 aces, 26 blocks and 63 kills
- Played five years at Sports Performance and won the 18-Open national championship, a world championship and was a 2015 AAU All-American
- Played in the European Global Challenge with the U22 BIP Midwest Team in Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia
- Honor Roll student at Benet Academy
ACADEMICS
- Plans on majoring in finance at the University of Kansas
PERSONAL
- Daughter of Rob Nielsen, Gwen Nielsen and Chris Gambol
- Has one older brother, Connor Nielsen
- Mother, Gwen, played volleyball at Northwestern, and aunt, Kelly, played volleyball at Purdue
- Step-father, Chris, played football and ran track at Iowa
- He also played in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, Detroit Lions and New England Patriots
- Father, Rob, played water polo at West Point
Hawk Talk with Matt Ulmer
Wednesday, April 15
Kansas Volleyball Sweet 16 Media Availability
Friday, December 12
The Jayhawker Podcast ft. Logan Bell
Thursday, December 11
Kansas Volleyball Media Availability
Tuesday, December 09
