GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Maria Hernandez, the Santa Fe Volleyball career leader in assists, has signed her letter of intent to play at the University of Charleston in Charleston, W. Va.

The University of Charleston competes in the Mountain East Conference in the NCAA Division II. 

The Golden Eagles finished the 2020-21 season with a record of 5-6 overall (5-5 MEC). Tyler Kanelos was then announced to be the program's new Head Coach on April 12, 2021. 

Hernandez, a sophomore setter from Bayamon, Puerto Rico and The Rock School, was a Mid-Florida Conference First Team selection for the Saints. It was the second First Team All-Conference selection for Hernandez in her career, after being named to the First Team All-Panhandle Conference in 2019. 

The FCSAA Setter of the Week distinction was handed out to Hernandez on two occasions, Feb. 9 and March 9. 

Hernandez came in at No. 3 in the FCSAA in total assists (727) and assists/set (10.10). Her assists/set average ranked No. 10 in the NJCAA Division I, as she orchestrated the attack for the Mid-Florida Conference Champions. Hernandez and SF finished the season with a record of 17-4 under Head Coach Nick Cheronis. 

Her contributions were significant defensively. She recorded 17 double-doubles on the season in assists and digs, and ranked second on the team in digs and No. 10 in the FCSAA with 313. She also totaled 26 blocks. 

Hernandez served up a career-high 51 assists on Jan. 29 in a 3-2 win at Pasco-Hernando State College, and set career-highs this season for kills in a match (7, vs. Pensacola State College on March 6) and digs (27, at Polk State College on Jan. 23 and at Indian River State College on Feb. 5). 

In the regular-season finale at Daytona State, Hernandez became the program's career-leader in all-time assists, surpassing the previous benchmark of 1,224 from Farah Rajaee (2014). She concluded her Saints career with 1,405.

Current SF Volleyball Commitments to Four-Year Institutions

Maria Hernandez - University of Charleston

Madison Sheffield - USF - Story

Kariana Ayala - JU - Story