Shelby Sullivan

Classroom

Shelby Sullivan, the 2014 SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year for volleyball, sports a 3.841 cumulative GPA as a student in Texas A&M’s highly regarded Mays Business School five-year professional program. Sullivan is simultaneously earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in finance. In 2014, Sullivan was named to the CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-District Second Team, and she recently received the university-wide Texas A&M Class of 2016 Class Stars Award for Academics.

Sullivan has been an honor student throughout her college career, having been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll each of the last two years and the 2012 SEC first-year Academic Honor Roll as a freshman. In addition, she has been a member of the Texas A&M Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll every semester since its inception in the fall of 2013.

Slated to graduate in May 2017 with both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Sullivan’s career ambition is to be a partner at one of the major accounting firms or be a CFO/CEO of a company.

Character

For good reason, Sullivan was selected by her teammates as team captain for the second consecutive year. The goal-oriented and devoted individual is an exemplary leader in so many ways both on and off the court. Her work ethic on the court, in the weight room and in the classroom is unmatched. With everything she does, she makes those around her better.

A model of fortitude and skill, Sullivan was coming on strong near the end of her freshman year when she went down with a severe knee injury in the first round of the NCAA Championship. Sullivan underwent off-season surgery that kept her out of spring drills, but with ardent determination she appeared in the starting lineup to begin her sophomore campaign. Since then, she has started every match but one and helped the Aggies reach the NCAA Tournament every year of her career.

An even-keeled yet driven competitor, Sullivan is reliable, consistent and extremely coachable. Respectful and respected, she has the natural ability to get teammates on board and going in the same direction and does it in such a way that those around her are motivated to do well for her. She exudes confidence and takes pride in leading the team with an ideal balance of lightheartedness, seriousness, composure and heart.

Sullivan, who possesses a genuine loyalty and dedication to her school and teammates, has always demonstrated upstanding sportsmanship to friend and foe and is a tremendous ambassador for Texas A&M and its volleyball program.

Community

Sullivan takes great pride and obtains personal enjoyment and fulfillment by participating in philanthropic activities that benefit the local community. Especially dear to her heart is a young girl she has mentored for several years at Still Creek Ranch, a boarding school for boys and girls who have been rescued from crisis environments including abuse, neglect, abandonment and sex trafficking. Sullivan, who describes her young friend as “the most amazing girl,” loves spending time with her and all the girls at Still Creek. A member of Chi Omega Sorority and the Texas A&M Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Sullivan also tutors students at Still Creek Christian Academy.

Sullivan has unselfishly served as a volunteer for a variety of events and organizations throughout the campus and community. Every year since she arrived at Texas A&M, Sullivan has used her time off during preseason two-a-day training to volunteer at the annual Residence Hall Move-In Assistance Day, welcoming and helping new and returning Aggies move into their campus dorms. She has packed family boxes at the Brazos Valley Food Bank and helped at the annual Hard Hats for Little Heads, an event that teaches children about the importance of wearing helmets when riding bikes, skateboarding, etc., to reduce head injuries. She also has assisted Junior Aggies Club at several events, helping to introduce young children to the sport of volleyball, among other festive activities.

Competition

A decorated middle blocker and the team’s go-to player on offense, Sullivan has started all but one match since making her first career start in the season opener of her sophomore campaign. As a junior, the team captain and team MVP was named honorable-mention All-America and All-South Region by the AVCA, and she was selected to the All-SEC team for the second consecutive year. She entered her senior season with a .379 career hitting percentage in all matches, putting her on pace to break the all-time record of .342 set in 1985. In 2014, Sullivan hit .374, the fifth highest season hitting percentage in A&M history. She broke several A&M records, including kills (20) in an SEC three-set match. She also hit .826 against Auburn, setting an A&M SEC record and Reed Arena record and ranking second in A&M all-time history for hitting percentage when making 20 or more attack attempts. Her 25 points against the Tigers also broke the A&M and Reed Arena records for most points in a three-set match.

Sullivan, who was named to the USC Classic All-Tournament Team after leading A&M to upset victories against both No. 6 USC and No. 13 San Diego, went on to tie for the team lead in kills in a team-high 11 matches, and she took team-high honors in points in a team-leading 12 matches.

As a sophomore, Sullivan was named AVCA All-South Region Honorable Mention and All-SEC and received A&M’s Best Offensive Player Award.