Sara Almen Class: Freshman Hometown: Albany, Ore. High School: Santiam Christian HS Height: 6-3 Event: High Jump

OREGON STATE VOLLEYBALL

2012: Played in 23 matches, starting nine, and saw action in 50 sets ... Finished with 94 kills, an average of 1.88 per set, along with 48 digs and 18 blocks ... Recorded seven kills against USC (Nov. 20) ... Had eight kills to go along with three service aces against California (Nov. 4) ... Posted 10 kills with one ace and 13 digs for a double double against Stanford (Nov. 2) ... Tallied a season-best 13 kills in 36 attempts against Colorado (Oct. 28), finishing with a season-best four service aces and three blocks in what was her first career start ... Picked up eight kills against Utah (Oct. 26) ... Managed nine kills in 19 attempts against Washington State (Oct. 14), adding two blocks ... Had back-to-back four-kill efforts against Presbyterian (Sept. 1) and DePaul (Sept. 9).

SANTIAM CHRISTIAN HS: Lettered four years in track and field ... Pac-West Track and Field Athlete of the Year as a junior and senior ... Three-time state champion in the high jump and a one-time state champion in the 4x100 relay ... Cleared 5-foot-9 in the high jump to go to USA Nationals as a senior ... Also lettered four years in volleyball for head coach Kim McLain ... Named first team all-league sophomore through senior year and was a first team all-state selection as a junior and senior ... Second team all-state as a sophomore ... Named 3A State Player of the Year her junior year ... Named first team all-state tournament as a sophomore, junior and senior ... Pac-West Player of the Year as a junior and senior ... All-Mid-Valley Player of the Year junior and senior year ... Team won state championships her sophomore and junior seasons ... Served as team captain as a junior and senior.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Beverly and Kevin Almen ... Has two sisters, Hanna and Mary, and one brother, Ryan ... Father, Kevin, competed in track for two years at Cal Poly Pomona ... Majoring in Exercise and Sports Science ... Favorite TV show is Psych and favorite movie is A Walk To Remember ... Chose Oregon State because "I wanted to play Pac-12 volleyball and stay close to home. Living in Albany, I've been a Beaver fan my whole life so it was a dream come true."