Orono Volleyball Star Mariah Scharf Has A Great Week

It would hard to top the past two weeks for Orono volleyball standout Mariah Scharf.

The senior outside hitter was named one of the Minneapolis StarTribune Athletes of the Week after she broke the school record for service aces in a season when she had seven in a five-set victory over Litchfield, breaking the old record of 114. Scharf leads the state in that category.

Scharf then watched her future team Minnesota Duluth defeated top-ranked Concordia St. Paul in five sets Saturday at the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul. The Bulldogs, who were ranked No. 4 in the country, snapped the Golden Bears’ streaks of 44 match victories overall, 61 home victories and 85 Northern Sun's regular-season victories, as they improved to 23-0. It was the first loss of the season for Concordia, who fell to 22-1.

Scharf helped lead the Spartans to a 3-0 win over Benilde St. Margaret’s Wednesday and they will face top seed Eden Prairie on the road Friday.

Patch.com recently caught up with Scharf to learn more about her recent honor, her senior season and college plans.

Lake Minnetonka Patch: You were named Star Tribune Athlete of the Week. That has to make you feel pretty proud.

Mariah Scharf: Yes. I was very excited to see my picture in the paper.

Lake Minnetonka Patch: Did you know ahead of time or did you find out from your coach?

Scharf: I did not know. My coach had told my parents. My parents went and got the paper in the morning and they told me to read the article and I did. I felt very happy about it.
 
Lake Minnetonka Patch: How about the way you are playing going into the playoffs?

Scharf: I am very hopeful for the sections. I know that we have strong players and I think that we can go pretty far this year.
 
Lake Minnetonka Patch: I know that you are going to play at UMD. What was the main reason you decided to pick the Bulldogs?

Scharf: I have been to Duluth a lot. I love the Duluth area. I know that the coach has a great program and they have a very strong volleyball team. I think I can do a lot at UMD. I visited the college last summer and meet with the coaches and saw the whole campus. This was the only Division II school that I was looking at. I wanted the more competitive school with a bigger challenge.
 
Lake Minnetonka Patch: You are hoping to major in chemistry or biochemistry in college. Have you thought about what you would like to do with that?

Scharf: I have always liked forensics, but I am just hoping that once I get that degree, my options will be wide open, so I can choose whatever.
 
Lake Minnetonka Patch: So you watch all the CSI shows, right?

Scharf: Oh, yes. I love them.