Sports

MEET CORNELIA CONNELLY’S MEGHAN SHOOP

Model student and standout volleyball player

By Jenelyn Russo     9/6/2015

Meghan Shoop didn’t have to look far for guidance in her pursuit of volleyball. The Cornelia Connelly School senior and four-year varsity player got her start in fifth grade and has a built-in support team around her, with her mother, aunt and cousin all experienced players who contribute to her growth, a reflection of what Shoop loves most about the sport.

“What interests me about volleyball is that it’s completely a team sport,” says Shoop. “Every single person is needed on the court.”

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As co-captain for the Koalas, and a two-time Second Team All-San Joaquin League player, Shoop’s skill set has allowed her to be versatile, slotting in at any position where she is needed. As she heads into her final year representing Connelly, Shoop’s goals are straightforward.

“Be the best person on the court that I can be, be the best leader that I can be, be the best player that I can be,” says Shoop.

Shoop takes seriously her role as captain for her team, knowing that the younger players look up to her leadership.

“Meghan is very skilled on the court, but the non-volleyball aspects of the game come easily to her as well,” says former Connelly varsity volleyball head coach Ryan Windisch. “Her communication with her coaches and teammates is wonderful, and she gains respect from others by the way she leads.”

Off the court, Shoop is making a significant impact on her campus with her involvement in several leadership roles.

The 17-year-old is secretary for the school’s chapter of the National Honor Society and has served in various roles for the Girls Athletic Association, the Human Rights Club and the yearbook staff.

Shoop also participated in Camp Cornelia, spending a week in New York as she and other high school students from around the country taught and mentored underprivileged fifth grade girls, an experience that Shoop says is “one of the highlights of my high school career.”

Moments like those coupled with her years as a student athlete have helped Shoop grow in her faith.

“My faith has really shaped my attitude toward other people,” says Shoop. “You have to treat other people like how you’d want to be treated.”

The Cypress resident is looking at colleges across the nation that will allow her to continue to play volleyball as well as study international business, and she has hopes of working for a sports company. The game has taught her so much that she desires to stay involved in sports even after she’s finished playing.

“Volleyball has definitely taught me to be a team player,” says Shoop. “You have to appreciate every single person. In everyday life, you can’t just dismiss someone. Every single person is important.”