Friday, May 13, 2011

WELCOME LEAH SHAW!

Leah Shaw has officially joined the Falcon family. Below is the release from our sports communication office. WELCOME TO BG LEAH!

Bowling Green, Ohio – Bowling Green State University volleyball coach Denise Van De Walle has announced that junior college transfer Leah Shaw will play at BGSU beginning in the fall of 2011. Shaw won a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championship in 2009 at Illinois Central College.

Hailing from Princeton, Ill., Shaw is the daughter of Dan and Jean Shaw. She played three years of varsity volleyball at Princeton High School, leading the team to a 90-27 record from 2006-08. She was honorable mention all-state in 2008 and the Bureau County Republican Volleyball Co-Player of the Year as a senior. She was twice named a unanimous first team All-NCIC recipient as well and was a member of the National Honor Society.

From there, she went on to Illinois Central College, where she was named to the All Tournament Team at the 2009 NJCAA National Championships. During the past year, she was an NJCAA Second Team All-American and an Academic All-American.

“I am thrilled to have Leah join our volleyball family,” Van De Walle said. “From the moment I talked to her on the phone to when I met her on campus, she fit right in. The team loved her instantly. She is a very gifted athlete who will play multiple positions for us. She is an excellent student, a great competitor, hits the ball hard, and is used to winning. Not too many athletes get the honor of playing on a National Championship team, being named an All-American in their sport and in the classroom. Leah has all three to her credit. She is the last volleyball player that I will sign in my career. She’s a special one.”

At Bowling Green, Shaw plans to study earth and environmental science.

Van De Walle has announced that she will retire following the 2011 season which will also be the first year for the program to compete in the new Stroh Center.