JEFFERSON TWP — One bad shoulder wasn't going to keep Sara Montgomery down.

The 2009 Knoch graduate is going to work twice as hard — at two different sports.

Montgomery is headed to the University of Sciences, a Division II school in Philadelphia, where she will major in occupational therapy while playing volleyball and basketball.

"Everything worked out perfectly," Montgomery said. "The school has an excellent program for my major and I've been playing both sports for so long, I don't have to give either one up."

Montgomery underwent shoulder surgery Feb. 27, shortly after the Knights' basketball season ended, for a torn labrum and bone spurs.

"My shoulder didn't feel right during volleyball season (last fall) and it just got worse," she recalled. "During basketball, there was a time that I thought I couldn't play anymore.

"Then I went to practice, saw the girls out there — I was gonna play."

With her shoulder heavily wrapped, Montgomery averaged 8.6 points and 9.5 rebounds this season. She blocked 121 shots in her prep career, the most by a Knoch player in the past 16 years.

"She was a warrior for us this season. That's the only way to describe it," said former Knoch girls basketball coach Curt Vasas. "She could have shut it down at any point during the season, given her bad shoulder and the fact she was planning to play in college.

"Could she go? That was a question I had to ask every game because only Sara knew how much pain she was in. To do what she did for her teammates this year speaks volumes for that girl."

Vasas said Montgomery had her shoulder iced down immediately after every game. In Knoch's playoff win over Laurel Highlands, she shot a free throw left-handed because she couldn't extend her other arm above her shoulder.

Montgomery was an all-section player in volleyball last fall, helping that team get into the WPIAL playoffs as well.

"I'd hate to give one up, but it'd be basketball if I had to make a choice because I'm getting more (scholarship) money for volleyball," Montgomery said.

"It's going to be challenging, playing two sports while adjusting to the academics. My schooling will be first priority, I know that much."

Montgomery graduated with a 3.75 grade-point average. She hopes to help children rehabilitate physically when her schooling is over.

The University of Sciences teams play in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. The basketball team finished 15-13, graduated only three seniors and reached the conference tournament for the eighth consecutive year.

Paul Stadelberger, an assistant coach at Philadelphia University for 20 years, was named head coach of the Devils June 17.

Jessa D'Achille was named University of Sciences volleyball coach last August and guided the team to an 11-8 record, barely missing the CACC tournament for only the second time since 2003.

"Joining two teams with two new coaches is a break because none of the other players will be used to a certain system or conditioning drills. I won't be behind that way," Montgomery said.

Montgomery is one of four new recruits joining the volleyball program in the fall.

"From the day I had my surgery, I'm not cleared to play for six months," Montgomery said. "That means late August. I'm still hoping to contribute next fall if I'm not redshirted."

Here is where Knoch graduate Sara Montgomery ranks among the school’s girls basketball players since 1993:First: career blocked shots with 121Third: single-season blocked shots with 39Third: single-season rebounds with 208Third: single-season field goal shooting with 45 percentSixth: single-season field goal shooting with 42 percent10th: career points with 462