Sam Serley

Classroom

As a health care management major with a minor in accounting, Serley has accumulated a 3.75 grade point average en route to being a three-time Conference USA All-Academic Team selection.  Serley was instrumental in the team earning the AVCA Team Academic Award in 2010.  She is a two-time C-USA Academic Medal winner and Commissioner’s Honor Roll selection on three occasions.  The Nashville, Tenn., native has also garnered Presidential honors and Dean’s List accolades throughout her three years as a Blazer.

Character

Serley has been a prime example of what a student-athlete should strive to be. She has not only been successful in the classroom and on the court, but also through her ability to be such a consistent player and student. Over the past three seasons, Serley has started all 96 matches and participating in 357 of 359 possible sets the Blazers have played.  In fact, for her career, Serley has played in 127 of a possible 129 matches in Green and Gold.  Beyond being a consummate student-athlete, she has been an outstanding leader and teammate.  Serley has the ability to be a fierce competitor and also play with a smile on her face.  Her character was never more evident when she was awarded the Conference USA Spirit of Service Award last fall for her excellence in all areas – classroom, community and competition.

Community

An active community member, Serley has spent countless hours giving back to the Birmingham area through a number of different children’s charities.  She has been a Blazer Buddies member by reading to kids, volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House and Habitat for Humanity.  Serley has put her volleyball knowledge to work, coaching for the Birmingham Volleyball Club along with teaching volleyball to kids at the Pump It Up family-fun activity center.  Serley is also a Student Athletic Advisory Council community member.

Competition

Serley is a two-time AVCA All-American Honorable Mention selection and AVCA Midwest Region pick by capturing the awards in 2010 and 2011.  She has made her mark in the Conference USA record book, ranking fourth in total blocks (558) and ninth in hitting percentage (.341).  Her excellence on both the offensive and defensive sides of the court as a middle blocker earned Serley First Team All-Conference USA accolades in both 2012 and 2011, along with earning second team all-league honors in 2010 and a spot on the conference’s all-freshman team in 2009.  Not only has Serley made a mark in Conference USA’s career records, but also in UAB volleyball history.  Serley owns both the career blocks (558) and single-season blocks (179) records for the Blazers and ranks second in program history in hitting percentage.  In addition, Serley became just the second player in UAB lore to reach both 1,000 kills and 500 blocks in a career.