TOWSON, Md. – When Sydney Stewart arrived on campus in August 2022, the Elizabethtown, Pa. native had little expectations as a walk-on volleyball player. Earlier this season, she became the 18^th player in school history to eclipse 1,000 career digs and enters this weekend ranked 10^th on the program's all-time digs list with 1,138.
 
During her freshman season, Stewart carved out a role as a serving specialist on a team that went 29-2, captured the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) championship and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the fourth consecutive season.
 
As a sophomore, Stewart unseated two-year starter Rachel Hess as Towson's primary libero and helped the Tigers win the CAA regular season title. That season, she ranked sixth in the conference with 388 digs.
 
"Coming in as a freshman, I did not have any expectations to get playing time but after that season I worked hard to understand the system," said Stewart, who had more than 1,000 career kills an outside hitter at Elizabethtown High School. "I tried to lock into my serve receive. Defense is the stat you see but if you can have a libero that is consistently good at serve receive, not getting aced, putting up good balls so we can run our offensive system. That was a key factor. It was a really hard battle. Rachel really took me under her wing and was an amazing role model."
 
As a junior, she totaled 508 digs, 133 assists and 38 service aces to help Don Metil's squad finish 24-6. This season, she earned Preseason All-CAA Team recognition. Through the first three weekends of 2025, Stewart is one of the top defensive specialists in Division I – ranking second nationally with 221 digs, averaging five per set.
 
"The person who comes in here next year with have big shoes to fill because Syd's a great performer," said Metil of his two-time captain. "She also has a huge voice – someone the other player's respect. Syd is a kid who does not take a day off or a play off. That is hard to find nowadays."
 
Off the court, Stewart has been even better. The Health and Physical Education major enters her senior year with a 3.981 grade point average (GPA) – earning a 4.0 GPA in five of her six semesters at Towson. She also represented the athletics department on the CAA's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as a junior and is serving as co-President of Towson's SAAC executive board in 2025-26.
 
"It is a hard balance if you do not have time management to succeed as a student-athlete. That is something I realized freshman year," Stewart added. "The course load, the amount of training and volleyball. I was not expecting it and was caught off guard. I put so much time and energy into it. I was in study hall eight hours per week, instead of six – doing everything I could with extra study hours and tutoring. After I got that 4.0 the first semester, it was so rewarding to see all my hard work led to something and I always want that feeling. I got the Dean's List email, and my dad printed it out and put it on the fridge. After that I decided that this was something I really cared about. I pride myself in everything I do. I want to do it to the best of my ability, so why would I take academics any differently?"
 
Stewart's competitiveness is legendary – something she developed as the middle child between brothers. She played baseball with her siblings through 10^th grade as a pitcher and middle infielder. 
 
"She literally is the first in everything," Metil said. "I hope our younger players see the example she is setting and it rubs off before it is too late. Syd has done a lot for the program both on and off the court and has certainly exceeded expectations. Her void will be tough to fill."
 
Stewart and her teammates kickoff the CAA schedule this weekend versus defending champion Charleston with matches beginning at noon on Saturday and Sunday at SECU Arena. The Tigers enter conference play with a 9-2 record.
 
"The goal is to win the CAA and that is what we are working towards every single day," Stewart said. "If that is not the outcome, I just want it to end on a good note. I do not want to end up saying I could have done more or could have played harder."