Sarah Butler Carthel, an Amarillo High School graduate, 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 program's third national championship.
WT won their last 18 matches, winning the Lone Star Conference and the NCAA South Central Regional Tournaments at the "Box" in Canyon. They then traveled to Bakersfield, Calif., for the Elite Eight Tournament. The Lady Buffs swept New Haven in three games and then took down host Cal State-Bakersfield in for games (18-16, 15-11, 7-15, 16-14).
And then for the national championship against Barry, it was a classic as the Lady Buffs won the title 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 pounded down her 26th kill to tie it up and then Holly Morgan got two more kills to secure the championship. Butler set an NCAA tournament record with 40 digs in that match.
Butler led the Lady Buffs to the regional tournament in 1998 and a 36-2 record and the national semifinals in 1999. By the time she finished her career, the Lady Buffs were an incredible 98-12.
She was selected first team AVCA All-American all three years, as well as the 1997 and 1999 NCAA Division II National Volleyball Player of the Year.
Butler finished with 2,000 career kills and holds the top three marks for match kills in WT history with 41, 40, and 39. She also has the top two kill attempts in a match with 92 and 86. The 41 kills in 92 attempts were set in her final match on Dec. 4th, 1999, in Battle Creek, Mich., against Tampa in the national semifinals.
