UMBC

Head Coach Ian Blanchard

BALTIMORE—UMBC volleyball incoming freshman Hannah Schmidt has been named the All-Metro Player of the Year by the Baltimore Sun as well as Varsity Sports Network’s 2010 Player of the Year, both publications announced recently.

“We are really excited about Hannah earning these honors,” head coach Ian Blanchard said. “I’ve been following her progress for several years and know if she continues to progress and work hard, she’ll be an outstanding Division I athlete.”

Schmidt led Mount de Sales to its third straight Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Division Championship from and was named an IAAM A Division All-Star in 2009 and 2010. She also led Sailors to back-to-back North Caroline Bulldog Classic crowns in 2009 and 2010 and was named the Best Attacker of the 2010 Capitol Hill Classic.  A pre-season AVCA All-American Player to Watch in 2010, Schmidt is a member of the National and National English honor societies and is a Maryland Distinguished Scholar Honorable Mention.

This season for the Sailors, Schmidt led the team in kills (292) and aces (59), and finished second in digs (138). Three other members of the All-Metro First Team will be playing Division I volleyball next fall, including Sam Brostrom (Albany), Liz Brown (William and Mary) and Casey Giovanazzi (North Florida).

“It says a lot of about the state of Maryland volleyball with all these quality players going to good DI schools,” Blanchard said. “It also speaks volumes about the academics of this university and the level of our volleyball program that we’re able to attract a caliber of player like Hannah. We think she’s another piece of the puzzle that will take our program to the next level.”