Stanford volleyball player dies

Stanford volleyball player dies

Published Mar. 27, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

Samantha Wopat, a sophomore on the Stanford volleyball team and a former member of the US women's junior team, died Sunday in Palo Alto, Calif. She was 19.

No cause of death was announced, but Wopat had been in intensive care at Stanford Hospital since March 17 after having a medical emergency at her campus residence, according to reports.

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Sam Wopat," athletic director Bob Bowlsby said in a statement. "She was an integral member of the Stanford Athletics family and a tremendous student and athlete.

Stanford University and the women's volleyball program "have lost a wonderful young woman," he said.

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Wopat, an outside hitter whose twin sister Carly played with her on the Cardinal, played on the junior national team in 2010, a year after playing on the youth national team that competed at the world championships in Thailand. She also was a member of three junior Olympic teams.

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