Sydney Benson

Photo by: Connor Garrison

Class:
Senior
Height:
6-0
Hometown:
Golden, Colo.
High School:
Golden Senior HS

AS A JUNIOR (2024)

Played 35 matches, all as a part of Mercer's number one pair
Played with two different teammates, going 11-18 with Kate Hardie and 3-3 with Alyssa Scoggins
Posted a 6-0 record at the Bears Beach Bash, defeating LaGrange and Carson-Newman twice as well as Emmanuel and Jacksonville State once
Recorded two victories at the North Florida Invite, beating New Orleans and College of Charleston
Defeated Southern Miss in conference play at the Sun Belt Mid-Year Weekend

AS A SOPHOMORE (2023)

Nominated for SBC Pair of the Week with Jordyn Warren
Played at the 3s flight
Beat University of North Florida for her first collegiate win
Beat #20 Coastal Carolina in 3 sets
Beat AVCA Pair of the Week, #19 Tulane in 2 sets

AS A FRESHMAN (2022)

Collegiate debut in the 2s pair against Stetson University
Played at the 2s and 3s flight
First collegiate win against Jacksonville University at the 2s pair
Took #15 Pepperdine to 3 sets at the 2s pair
Clinched the duel against SFA’s 3s with Nicole O’Mara at the ASUN Conference Tournament
Defeated EKU in straight sets at the ASUN Conference Tournament

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB

Indoor Club
- Played indoor club at Front Range Volleyball Club in Parker, Colorado under Jim Miret
- 15s year clinched a USA bid to USAV nationals
- 16s year got 3rd in 17 Open at the JVA Rock and Rumble in Cleveland, Ohio with Juggernaut Volleyball Club
High School
- Started on varsity all 4 years and played 269 sets
- Totaled 1,006 assists, 315 kills, 139 aces, 163 blocks, and 853 digs in 4 years
- Team Captain junior and senior year
- 2018 Second Team All-Conference
- 2019 and 2020 First Team All-Conference
- 2020 Jeffco 4A Player of the Year
- 2020 All-State Honorable Mention
- 2019 and 2020 All-State Academic Team
- Graduated 28th out of 375 students with a 4.62 GPA
- 4 years on Gold Honor Roll
Beach
- Played at The Lab in Arvada, Colorado under Mike Patton and Flourish in Indian Hills, Colorado under Nate Yang
- 1st Place in 14s at 2017 Yeti Open - Bid to AAU Jr. Olympics
- 1st Place in 16s at 2018 Yeti Open - Bid to AAU Jr. Olympics
- 1st Place in Women’s “A” at Breckenridge Putterhead Doubles
- 2nd Place in 16s at 2019 Yeti Open - Bid to AAU Jr. Olympics
- 1st Place in 16s at 2019 p1440 Qualifier - Bid to p1440 Nationals
- 3rd Place in 16s at 2019 AVP America - Bid to AVP America Nationals
- 1st Place in 16s at 2019 USAV Qualifier - Bid to USAV Nationals
- 5th Place in 16s at 2020 BVCA GNBV showcase in Santa Monica, California
- 2nd Place in 18s BVCA Club vs Club San Bernardino - Bid to BVCA Club vs Club Nationals

PERSONAL

Daughter of Charlie and Becky Benson
Mother Becky played volleyball at Bowling Green State University
Majoring in chemical commerce with an emphasis in accounting as well as minoring in both economics and biology
Graduated with a 4.6 GPA from Golden HS, finished ranked 28/375 in her class
Academic honors included Physics Student of the Year and 4x Gold Honor Roll
Involved in Student Council and Wish Club in high school
Enjoys wake surfing and traveling
Go-to snack is flavor blasted Goldfish
Lists her mother as her hero
Favorite movie is Interstellar

Why I Chose to Attend Mercer University?

“I chose Mercer because of the family oriented goals of the team. Coach Josh values the idea that we are a family and everyone on the team really buys into that concept on and off the court. Mercer also has a beautiful campus and I wanted to live in a different part of the country than I grew up in.”