LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball program has signed three student-athletes - Maya Sands, Sydney Stenson and Fatima Sheriff - who will enroll at the University beginning in the fall of 2022, head coach Dawn Sullivan announced Monday.
This fall's class is composed of an Illinois native (Sands), a Rocky Mountain-area native (Stenson) and one hailing from the Golden State (Sheriff).
Sands is a 5-7 libero/defensive specialist who attends Rock Falls High School. She lettered in volleyball all four years for the Rockets, leading them to become conference champions her freshman, sophomore and senior season, as well as regional champs during her sophomore and senior season. During the 2021 season, Sands broke the school record for most wins in a season (37-2), breaking the previous record set during her sophomore season, earning them the title of sectional champions, as well as regional and conference champs for 2021. Sands has made a name for herself during her four year career for the Rockets, during her freshman season she earned team MVP, 2nd team All-Conference and Academic All-Conference, her sophomore season she earned co-MVP, 1st team All-Conference, All State Honorable Mention, Academic All-Conference and was recognized for the most service aces. During her senior season she earned 1st team All-Conference and placed second in the nation in the 18 open division at AAUS.
Stenson is a 5-11 right side hitter who attends Bear Creek High School in Lakewood, Colorado. She lettered three years in volleyball and one in track & field for high jump, discus and shot put for the Bears. She has helped the Front Range Club Volleyball team to the top spot for the Reno-Far Western 17 open, lead them to a second place finish in the Colorado-Crossroads 17 open and was selected for a spot on the 2018 USA Volleyball High Performance National Training. In all, she has helped her team to a total of 39 wins in her four years of volleyball for Bear Creek High School. She earned All-conference Honorable Mention in 2018, 2nd team All-Conference in 2019 and 2020, while she was team captain, and earned 1st team All-Conference, as well as Player of the Year, for the 5A-Jeffco Conference in 2021. Over the last season alone, she has amassed 339 kills, 225 digs and has hit at a .315 hitting efficiency.
Sheriff hails from the Golden State as a 6-3 middle blocker who attends Great Oak High School in Temecula, California. She lettered three years in volleyball, leading the Wolfpack to second in the Southwestern conference for the 2021 season. She helped the Wolfpack record 23 total wins during her time there and earned a spot on the club watch list for prep volleyball class of 2022. Sheriff led her club team Forza1 17ua to a seventh place finish for the 2021 season in PVL and a 13th place finish in SCVA in the 2020 season with the 16ua team. She has also helped the Wolfpack to 25 wins during her career, ending the 2021 season 18-6.
UP NEXT: UNLV hits the road for the 2021 National Invitational Volleyball Championship to play the Aggies of New Mexico State University at the McKale Memorial Center at 2 p.m. (PT) Friday, December 3 in Tucson, Arizona.
