Post Classifieds
Transfer Horvath lends hand in program's historic season
By Aaron Garland
On October 24, 2012
Not many people can say they have played a Division I sport, let alone for two different schools.
Buffalo State volleyball player Sarah Horvath can.
Growing up playing at a high level of club volleyball, it was always Horvath's dream to play for a Division
I program.
The junior sociology major fulfilled that goal when she played as a freshman at Siena College in 2010
before transferring to the University at Buffalo and walking onto its Division I team as a sophomore.
However, the rigorous task of playing Division I volleyball proved to not be as fabled as expected.
Horvath has become content with playing for Buffalo State's Division III team this season after
transferring from UB at the start of the semester.
"I love it. I'm seriously so happy I came (to Buff State)," Horvath said. "This is my favorite college season,
by far. The girls here have just made it awesome, and the coaches always believe in us, and I just could
not be happier that I made this decision."
The route to Buff State was a process for Horvath, though.
Late during her senior year of high school at Immaculata Academy, Horvath committed to Siena after
receiving a partial scholarship to play volleyball. During her freshman year, she received a considerable
amount of playing time as a defensive specialist, but decided to transfer because of academic motives.
Wanting to pursue an education in the medical field, she enrolled at UB for their highly-touted nursing
program. She then made the team as a walk-on, but left halfway through the season.
"It just wasn't a good fit," Horvath said. "It just was not a good experience, but it killed me not to play. I
just didn't know who I was anymore - I didn't know what to do with myself."
With the burning desire to still play volleyball, Horvath played in several adult leagues around Western
New York, and was an assistant coach for a team at her old club, the Niagara Frontier Volleyball Club.
As much as Horvath enjoyed coaching, she said it wasn't enough and there was still something missing.
"My whole heart was into coaching and making these girls better, but secretly I just wanted to be in the
drills and not on the sideline," Horvath said.
An invitation to play on a team in an adult tournament turned out to be the break Horvath was looking
for.
One of her old high school coaches asked her to play, and coincidentally the current Buffalo State
women's volleyball coach, Maria DePeters, was on the same team. The two knew each other from
DePeters' time also coaching at the NFVC.
Throughout a successful tournament for the team, the two chatted about Horvath's college-playing
career. After learning that Horvath was not playing anywhere, DePeters started her recruitment pitch.
Horvath was skeptical of possibly playing at Buff State, solely because it would be her third school in the
same amount of years.
"I thought about it, but I had never really considered playing again," Horvath said. "I wanted to, but then
I was like, 'Is transferring a third time really worth it?'"
Horvath soon changed her mind because the thought of not playing collegiately again was "eating her
up." She got in contact with DePeters and a visit to the school was set up. After meeting the team and
watching a spring practice, Horvath decided to put her transfer to Buffalo State into fruition.
Though Horvath admitted she did not know what to initially expect from the program, she did trust
when DePeters spoke of a strong incoming freshman class and the potential this year's team possessed.
"I think (Horvath) really liked my coaching philosophy and how I run a program, and I think that she
definitely thought that she could be an impact player and she has been," DePeters said.
Horvath started with the team at the beginning of this season, but her second chance at playing
collegiately came with dedication and sacrifice.
In order to complete her transfer from UB, she had to finish the final pre-requisites obligatory for
nursing school - which she plans to pursue upon graduation - this past summer.
It was a daunting and ambitious task that Horvath described as "horrible," because it forfeited her
whole summer, but she knows it was worth it.
"I was nervous," Horvath said. "I thought people were going to judge me (for) transferring again, but at
the end of the day I have to be happy with myself, and I know that volleyball was not something that I
was ready to give up in my life. So I feel very fortunate that I had another opportunity to play."
As opposed to being more of a role player at Siena and UB, Horvath is now striving at the outside hitter
position, providing versatility for the Bengals with consistent offense and defense.
She is a big reason for the success the Bengals (22-7, 6-0 SUNYAC) have endured this year, as they
finished undefeated in regular season play to win the SUNYAC West Division for the first time in school
history.
This season, Horvath is fifth on the team in blocks (36), fourth in kills (197) and second in both digs (381)
and service aces (36).
Teammate Sam Parente said Horvath's work ethic is contagious, and that has helped drive the team to a
high quality of play.
"(Horvath) has brought a lot, she's very dedicated," Parente said. "She's a very hard worker and makes
everyone else around her want to work just as hard."
Horvath is gratified that her decision to play at and attend Buffalo State has brought her happiness after
her collegiate volleyball career got off to a less-than-ideal start.
But if she had to do it all over again, Horvath wouldn't change a thing. She fulfilled a dreamed that she
longed for - playing at a Division I program.
"I probably wouldn't (change anything). I did gain a lot of good experiences from that," Horvath
said. "And I think that's what I needed to do, because that was always my dream and if I didn't go after
it, I think I always would have wondered 'What If?'"
Aaron Garland can be reached by email at garland.record@live.com.
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