Stanford Volleyball Player Sam Wopat's Cause of Death 'Unlikely' To Be Revealed

Stanford University is unlikely to release further imformation about volleyball player Sam Wopat's cause of death, according to assistant vice president of university communications Lisa Lapin, because of family privacy concerns.

(Photo: gostanford.com)

Out of respect for the family's privacy, we are deferring to their wishes and will continue to do so, Lapin said in an email. It will be the decision of the family as to what, if any, information to share and when.

Wopat died at Stanford Hospital on Sunday after spending eight days in the intensive-care unit for what the school called a medical emergency that began at her campus residence. At the time of her death, she was surrounded by her family, friends and teammates.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Sam Wopat, said athletic director Bob Bowlsby. 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.

The 19-year-old Wopat graduated from Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta (Santa Barbara County). She joined the Stanford team in 2010 with her twin sister Carly as an outside hitter, and both of them were named the 2010 Dos Pueblos High School Top Female Athlete. As a highly-touted freshman, Sam Wopat saw action in 11 sets, recording a .571 hitting percentage.

Wopat also played on the 2010 U.S. junior volleyball national team, a year after playing on the youth national team that competed at the world championships in Thailand. She was a member of three junior Olympic volleyball teams.

The 2011 Stanford volleyball team finished tied for fourth in the Pac-12 with a 15-7 record and was eliminated by Michigan in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Wopat is survived by her parents, Ron and Kathy of Santa Barbara, her sister Carly and her younger brothers Jackson and Eli.

Memorial information will be shared as it becomes available, according to the Stanford Athletics website.

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