Sarah Butler Carthel, Volleyball, West Texas A&M:  Butler, a member of the 1994 Class 5A state championship Amarillo High School volleyball team, transferred to WTAMU in 1997 after an outstanding freshman season at the University of Texas. Her impact was immediate as she helped lead the Lady Buffs to a 37-3 record and the 1997 Division II National Championship.

      In 1997, WTAMU won their last 18 matches, including the Lone Star Conference and the NCAA South Central Regional tournament titles. At the NCAA Elite Eight, held in Bakersfield, Calif., the Lady Buffs swept New Haven in three games, then defeated host Cal-State Bakersfield in four games.  In the national championship match against Barry, the Lady Buffs claimed the school's third national title, winning in five games (4-15, 15-13, 21-19, 7-15, and 18-16 in rally scoring). Barry led 16-15 for match point before Butler tallied her 26th kill to tie the score and give the Lady Buffs an opportunity to secure the championship. En route, Butler set an NCAA tournament record with 40 digs in the match.

      In 1998, Butler led the Lady Buffs to the regional tournament and in 1999 lead WTAMU to a 36-2 record and an appearance in the national semifinals. Butler's team record over that three-year span was an incredible 98-12.

      She was selected first-team AVCA All-America from 1997-1999 and was a two-time NCAA Division II National Player of the Year selection, earning the honor in both 1997 and 1999.

      Butler finished her career with 2,000 career kills and holds the top three marks for match kills in WT history with 41, 40, and 39. She also holds the top two marks for kill attempts in a match with 92 and 86. The 41 kills in 92 attempts were set in her final match on December 4, 1999, at Battle Creek, Mich., against Tampa in the national semifinals.

      Currently, Carthel is a volunteer assistant volleyball coach at SFA, with family: Colby (Husband), Major, Bear, and Stone (Sons).