Schaap is a 5'8 setter from Green Mountain High School, where she was a three-year starter and served as team captain for the Rams.  Following her senior season, Schaap was named Colorado's 4A Jefferson County Regional MVP and also garnered CCGS and CHSCA All-State honors. She completed her high school career with 149 aces, 502 digs and amassed 1,958 set assists.

Schaap currently plays for the Colorado Momentum, a USAV club volleyball travel team, and led her team to a 9^th place tie in the Open Division of the USAV National Qualifier.

“We are all very excited for the addition of Sydney to our Cougar volleyball family,” said Coach McCartney.  “She came on a visit and won over our athletes with her physical play on the court and her character off the court.”

He added, “Syd is a high level setter with an excellent volleyball I.Q.  She is a great fit for our style of play and we couldn't be happier to add her to the team.”

Schaap joins Kayla Crane (Maple Grove, Minnesota), Janelle Lam (Apple Valley, Minnesota), Haley McCurley (Larkspur, Colorado), Marissa O'Grady (Blair, Nebraska) and Allison Pickhardt (Randolph, Wisconsin) as a member of McCartney's incoming freshman class.

Sioux Falls ended its 2013 campaign with a record of 19-12 (10-10 NSIC), a five-match improvement on their 2012 efforts (14-16 overall, 5-15 NSIC) to finish seventh in the NSIC standings to notch their first-ever bid to the U.S. Bank/NSIC postseason tournament. Season highlights included the Cougars' five-set comeback win against Augustana College—the program's first victory over the rival Vikings in more than 30 years— and USF's first-ever win versus an NCAA ranked opponent, when they upset No. 6 Southwest Minnesota State on the road (Oct. 22).

USF will open the 2014 season in Charlotte (N.C.), Sept. 5-6 at the Queen's University tournament.