Kansas City, MO – Coming off the best season in program history, which included a 36-1 record and a trip to the NAIA National Championship, University of the Cumberlands outside hitter Sara Zampedri has been named an NAIA First Team All-American, national officials announced Tuesday.

Zampedri becomes the first Patriot in program history to earn First Team All-American recognition and is now a two-time NAIA All-American after earning Third Team honors last season. The junior outside hitter turned in another stellar campaign, leading Cumberlands with 415 kills, averaging 3.71 kills per set, while hitting .269 on the year. She added 310 digs, 76 aces, and 33 blocks, showcasing her ability to impact the game in every phase.

Head Coach Kathryn Park shared, "I'm incredibly proud of Sara and the remarkable growth she's shown, this season and throughout her career. Her leadership helped set the tone for our group and helped push us into a truly historic year."

The Flero, Italy native was named the Mid-South Conference Player of the Year for the second straight season and earned First Team AVCA All-Region honors. Zampedri recorded double-digit kills in 27 matches, including four performances with 20 or more kills. Her powerful presence at the net helped fuel a Patriots offense that ranked among the best in the NAIA throughout the year.

Across her three-year career, Zampedri has established herself as one of the most decorated players in program history. She is a three-time MSC First Team All-Conference selection, a three-time AVCA All-Region honoree, and has earned multiple MSC Attacker of the Week awards. Zampedri also reached the 1000 career kills mark earlier this season, finishing this season at 1365 career kills which is the fourth-best in program history.

"Being named First Team All-American is a reflection of her work ethic, her character, and the impact she's had on everyone around her."

Cumberlands completed a historic 2025 season by capturing the MSC Regular Season and Tournament titles, earning their third consecutive berth to the NAIA National Tournament, and advancing to the NAIA Final Site for the first time ever.

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