Schmale Signs Professionally With Haro Rioja Voley
Aug 15, 2016 | Volleyball
OMAHA, Neb. -- Former Omaha volleyball player Megan Schmale is headed overseas to play professionally after signing a contract with Haro Rioja Voley in Haro, Spain. Haro Rioja Voley plays in the Superliga Femenina de Voleibol, Spain's top volleyball league.
Schmale, a middle blocker from Murdock, Neb., was a four-year starter in the Omaha program from 2012 to 2015. She earned All-Summit recognition after leading the Summit League in total blocks (159), block assists (146) and blocks per set (1.28) last season and was also third in the conference for hitting percentage (.336). Schmale capped her Maverick career as Omaha's all-time leader for career block assists (460), breaking a 27-year-old school record in the final week of the 2015 regular season.
"I'm looking forward to continuing my playing career in Spain," Schmale said. "I can't wait to meet new people and experience a different culture. I'm excited to continue playing the game on a professional level and keep growing as a volleyball player. Reaching this goal has been a dream of mine for a while, and I couldn't have done it without the support I've had throughout my years at UNO."
Schmale will join her professional club in early September. She graduated with her bachelor's degree in elementary education from UNO in May 2016.
“Megan has an incredible opportunity ahead of her, not just to travel overseas to compete, but to compete in one of the premier leagues in Europe,” head coach Rose Shires said. “It says so much about what Megan accomplished in her four years as a Maverick. We are very excited to see what she can achieve in her first year as a professional volleyball player.”
Schmale, a middle blocker from Murdock, Neb., was a four-year starter in the Omaha program from 2012 to 2015. She earned All-Summit recognition after leading the Summit League in total blocks (159), block assists (146) and blocks per set (1.28) last season and was also third in the conference for hitting percentage (.336). Schmale capped her Maverick career as Omaha's all-time leader for career block assists (460), breaking a 27-year-old school record in the final week of the 2015 regular season.
"I'm looking forward to continuing my playing career in Spain," Schmale said. "I can't wait to meet new people and experience a different culture. I'm excited to continue playing the game on a professional level and keep growing as a volleyball player. Reaching this goal has been a dream of mine for a while, and I couldn't have done it without the support I've had throughout my years at UNO."
Schmale will join her professional club in early September. She graduated with her bachelor's degree in elementary education from UNO in May 2016.
“Megan has an incredible opportunity ahead of her, not just to travel overseas to compete, but to compete in one of the premier leagues in Europe,” head coach Rose Shires said. “It says so much about what Megan accomplished in her four years as a Maverick. We are very excited to see what she can achieve in her first year as a professional volleyball player.”
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