Sandi DeVries Ernst '03 was a three-time First Team All-Conference player for Ripon's volleyball team, graduating as the school-record holder in both career blocks (591), which still stands today, and kills (1,384), which currently ranks second in program history, and ranks fourth and 13th, respectively, in Midwest Conference history. Ernst's hitting percentage of .332 was also a school record at the time of her graduation, and ranks fourth in conference history. Ernst was inducted into Ripon's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.

"Just by looking at her career numbers, it's easy to tell that Sandra was a player that stood out on the court," Ripon Head Volleyball Coach Katie Astrauskas said at Ernst's Hall of Fame induction. "Sandra was able to achieve everything that she did because of the heart and soul that she put into the game. From closing a block to hustling on the court, those were just things she internally possessed."

Ernst became an integral part of Ripon's volleyball program from the first day she stepped foot on campus. Appearing in all 36 matches as a freshman, Ernst led the Red Hawks with 355 kills (2.84 K/set), which was 104 more than the next-highest total, while also leading the team in blocks with 174, which set a new single season school record and still ranks fourth in program history.

She followed that up with a sophomore campaign that saw her finish second on the team in both kills (239) and blocks (107). Ernst is the only player in program history to rank in the top 10 for a single season more than once in both kills and blocks.

As a junior, Ernst helped Ripon finish with a 20-13 record, appearing in all but one match that season, which saw her lead the team with 396 kills. She also led the team in blocks with 165, while ranking fourth on the team in digs (315). She also set a school record with 26 kills against St. Norbert that season, which still ranks fifth in program history.

She would cap her career in style the following year, leading the program to their highest single season win total in program history with a 24-13 record. The team leader in kills (394) that season, Ernst ranked 15th in all of Division-III  for hitting percentage (.399), while also ranking 23rd in the country in blocks per game (1.49). She also added 98 blocks, which was second-best on the team.

"When I think of Ripon, I think of my teammates and the camaraderie that we shared," Ernst recalled at her Hall of Fame induction. "Julie Kaiserling was a senior when I was a freshman and I can truthfully say that I wouldn't have made it through the volleyball season without her that season."

A History and Speech Communications major from Brandon, Wis., Ernst was also a resident assistant at Johnson Hall and was a member of the Student Admissions Ambassadors Club. She currently works at the University of California-Davis, and resides in Redding, Calif., with her husband, Kevin, and their children, Wynston and Lele.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CLICK HERE to view and read all of Ripon's archived '100 For 100' profiles, which will have each profile added to it once it is posted online.