Communication. Loyalty. Family. Respect. 

These, and many other characteristics properly define the way that senior communication major Sara Ridgway exhibits her skills of leadership and teamwork, whether it be on the volleyball courts, in the classroom or in her office.

The starting blocker and middle hitter for Kean University's Women's Volleyball team, Sara Ridgway has emerged as a leader and positive influence for her teammates throughout her four years as a member of the team. Recently, her captaincy would receive a significant boost, as she would break an all-time school record in her sport. On the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, the school record for the most blocks by a volleyball player would fall, giving Ridgway the recognition that she vehemently worked for. 

Only needing four blocks to break the school record coming into the match, Ridgway's persistence in winning the match overshadowed her need to set the new record at Kean.

"I really had no idea that I was close to the record. Coach [Perkins] did not let me know ahead of time, which I was happy about, because I knew that I would have been thinking about that more than the games," Ridgway commented. "I am glad that he did not tell me until later and that made it even more special that it happened."

In a night that saw the Cougars rally from a 2-1 set deficit to beat in-state rival Monclair State University, Ridgway would collect her 390th block, breaking former middle hitter Kaitlyn Hansen's record of 382 career blocks that was accumulated in her three-year career as a Cougar. Ridgway's preparation, persistence and will to win not only comes from her work ethic, but her supportive and top-notch coaching staff, comprised of eight-year Head Coach Don Perkins and Assistant Coaches Audrey O'Donnell and Alix Denison. 

Since her freshman year, the three members of the staff have instituted various leadership skills that she uses everywhere she goes.

"They have been supportive of me since day one. Since I was a freshman, they have always helped. Audrey [O'Donnell] played the Middle Hitter Position at Stockton University so she specifically worked with me in the middle, so I learned a lot from her," Ridgway said. "Coach Alix and Coach Don have been supportive through it all, so if they see things that I need to change, they will tell me and if they see something that I am doing well in, they will tell me that too."

While being one of the only seniors for this season's roster, the middle hitter's plans to be a trustworthy figure in the locker room come from her personal model of wanting to lead by example.

"Over the years, I have developed my voice more, but I have always held to the philosophy of letting my actions speak louder than words," Ridgway commented. 

Whether she is putting in work in the offseason, the gym or during practice, the senior wishes to continue to build her team's competitive culture by continuing to help lead her team throughout the tumultuous trials of the season.

Her love for the game also prompted her role in leadership at a young age, as Ridgway began her playing career in middle school at the young age of 11. 

"Barnegat Middle School, at the time, just started a team, so I was on one of the first teams to ever play for the school, and when I went to high school, I gained some experience and was able to play with my sister, while playing on a club team for a year," Ridgway said. "I had always wanted to play for a college and Kean ended up being one of the last 14 schools on my list. I could not make up my mind in finding the perfect school for volleyball and academics, but since my freshman year, it has been such a great experience."

The sport has taken the student leader all around the country, such as places like California, Michigan and Kentucky. "I would not have gone to those places had it not been for this game."

Now, with a 24-9 record, and the top spot in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) standings, Ridgway's Cougars do not only want to finish the regular season undefeated in their conference, but also want to get to the postseason for a shot at a national title. 

"We recently had four losses against some of the best teams in the country, and that served as motivation for the next few games, because it does not just stop with the NJAC," Ridgway said. "We plan to make it to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament as we set ourselves to get to that point, so now that we have experienced playing these teams, we know exactly what we have to do, which is getting in the gym for extra workouts after putting in the time to physically improve as a group."

Ridgway also attributes the team's success to the ambitious mindset established throughout their triumphant season. By clinching the number one seed in their conference, putting the foot on the gas pedal to finish out the last three matches of the season seems like the top priority in the team's, and the senior leader's, book of accomplishments.

A leader in many other ways than on the volleyball court, Sara has excelled in her studies simultaneously with her volleyball career. A media and film communications major with a minors in marketing and speech language hearing sciences, she aspires to be a speech pathologist as applying to Graduate school is the next step for the Senior. 

"My major helped me understand people better as a lot of communication theory classes helped me build who I am and my leadership positions. It also helped me in terms of group communication, especially with communication with teammates," Ridgway stated. "I am able to analyze team chemistry and the team's success."

Volleyball and communication happen to be Ridgway's strong suits, and in her role as a Service Specialist with the Center for Leadership and Service (CLS), her role of responsibility has improved tremendously. 

"I feel like the CLS has given me a lot of responsibility in my role. When I was a staff writer for The Cougar's Byte, I had to come up with my own stories. As a Service Specialist, I am responsible for staying in my office and help the team with whatever they need, so regardless if it is a sports team or office setting, it shows that every person's role is important, no matter how big or small it is."

From breaking a school record enshrined in this institution's history, to being a person people can trust on and off the hardwood, Sara Ridgway's game plan for academic and athletic victory does not happen without the positive coaches, friends and teammates around her who push her to be the best she can be. 

"Reaching the block record was a great achievement, but it was a team effort. I could not get a block unless my teammates on both the right and left sides set up the block first. Every teammate that I have had since my Freshman year has helped me get to this point. My name is on the record, but it took a team to accomplish it."