LINCOLN –Lincoln Pius X setter Sara Boothe and Coastal Carolina have had a fairly long relationship, but when Chanticleer coach Jozsef Forman popped the scholarship question, it didn’t take Boothe long to accept.
Boothe, a Nebraska Prep Volleyball Class B First Team performer in 2013, accepted Forman’s offer when he called on Saturday night. The 5-foot-7 senior-to-be said Coastal Carolina first showed an interest in her after the 2013 AAU National Championships. She made a visit to the Myrtle Beach, S.C., school early this summer and then returned last week for a camp.
It was within a couple days of the end of camp when Forman called and made the scholarship offer – which is for a full four years.
“I really like coach Forman. He’s a foreign coach, so he runs things a little different than I’m use to,” Boothe, who played for the Nebraska Juniors 171 team this club season, said. “And, he keeps things moving at practice, which I really like.”
Boothe said she didn’t hesitate to take the scholarship because – among other reasons – she didn’t want to let the opportunity slip away. She said she also had been considering an offer from North Texas, but while she contemplated it, the Mean Green gave her scholarship to another player.
Aside from the fact it’s close to the beach, Boothe said Coastal Carolina offers mostly new facilities and a great education in her area of study – business. The school also has a program that allows students to get their undergraduate and MBA in five years.
“That was one really big thing,” Boothe said of the MBA program. “One of the best features for sure is the academics.”
Boothe said the coaching staff at Coastal Carolina said it liked her hands and her quickness as well as her leadership abilities on the court. Coastal Carolina plays in the Big South Conference and went 19-12 last year, ending the season with a loss to Radford in the Big South Championship match.
Once she gets to Coastal Carolina, Boothe said the training she has received at Pius X and Nebraska Juniors will help make her transition smooth.
“Ever since I was little, I’ve wanted to play Division I volleyball,” Boothe said. “I’ve always known in order to do that, I would probably need to go far away. I’m sure it will be hard to get use to, missing my friends and family, but I’ve traveled a lot with the sports I’ve played and I know I will get use to it.
“It’s taken a lot of hard work and discipline (to achieve her goal). Pius has a lot more stricter workout program than most places. Just having that, I know how to push myself out of my comfort zone.”
Boothe had 1,253 assists in 2013 for the Thunderbolts as well as 380 digs, 75 kills, 15 blocks and 39 ace serves.
