Pereira Inks with University of Mary

Seward County sophomore setter Amanda Pereira signed on the dotted line Wednesday on National Signing Day across the country, sealing her commitment to NCAA Division II member University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Pereira had a big sophomore season for the Lady Saints in 2016, earning 2nd Team All-Conference and 2nd Team All-Region VI honors while leading Seward to the Jayhawk West and Region VI Championships. She led the Lady Saints in both assists with 759 and aces with 40 this year, while also filling up the stat sheet with 223 digs, 42 blocks, and 78 kills. She came up big when the Lady Saints needed her most this season, registering five straight double-doubles to close the year to seal both the conference and regional titles. Pereira had 30 or more assists 10 different times in 2016 including a career high 44 in the final week of the regular season against Barton, eventually earning her both Jayhawk West and NJCAA National Player of the Week honors.

Pereira will make the trip North to join a rebuilding University of Mary program that has continued to make significant progress over the past two seasons. Currently the Marauders are led by another former Lady Saint in Thayna Silva who played for Seward in 2012 and 2014.

Pereira and the Lady Saints continue preparations this week ahead of a trip to their first NJCAA National Tournament appearance in 13 years which will begin on November 17th.

Roy Allen