Sandra DeLaRiva graduated from Rutgers University in 1986. She played on the US national team from 1983-88, winning a gold medal at the 1987 Pan American Games and the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. She was on US Champion club teams in 1985-86 and 1988, and was named MVP of the 1988 National Championships. DeLaRiva became a vice-president of the US Team Handball Federation and served as team leader at the 1996 Olympics. She later worked as director of budget and management services for the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation.