LebCo Female Athlete of the Week: Chloe Shirk (Week Ending October 6, 2024)

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Chloe Shirk

During the Week of September 30th, the ELCO Girls Volleyball Team faced Lebanon and Garden Spot. In those two matches, the Raiders went 1-1, but over the course of six sets, Chloe Shirk shined. The junior totaled 21 kills, 15 digs, 2 aces, and 5 blocks. For her efforts, the LebCoSports.com community voted Shirk as the LebCo Female Athlete of the Week.

Having played Volleyball since she was in 5th grade, it is a sport in which she excels. During the season, Shirk led ELCO with 185 kills and 38 blocks. She is closing in on the 600 kill mark, finishing this season with 587 for her career. Her role as a backline defender has greatly helped the ability for the Raiders to compete in matches.

When asked about her performance that earned her Athlete of the Week honors, Shirk was quick to turn the conversation to talking about the team. She said, “I think we came together well as a team compared to the beginning of the season. Although we lost to Garden Spot, it was a hard fight until the end.”

Coach Megan Hanichak confirmed Shirk’s team-first mentality when she said, “Her volleyball IQ is hard to beat, and she is a great teammate and leader. It will be exciting to continue to watch her grow in the sport and watch her help her younger teammates learn the game.”

As a sophomore, Shirk was voted a Lancaster Lebanon League 1st Team All Star. All indications are that she has only improved with the goal of become a more “well-rounded player” with the intentions of playing the sport at the collegiate level.

Unfortunately, her junior season ended abruptly when she sustained a severe ankle sprain the day after the Garden Spot match. This also forced her to wear a boot with her Homecoming dress the Saturday that followed. The other effect it had was end her chance to play alongside senior Gabby Smith in Smith’s final games.

That said, Shirk will have one more season of Softball with Smith, with whom she served as a battery mate last season, serving as the catcher for the dominant pitcher. In fact, Shirk’s play on the softball diamond Lebco Athlete of the Week honors this past May.

Beyond competing for ELCO, Shirk is also very active in playing club volleyball as a member of the Fusion 17u Blue Team. This level of commitment to athletics is only made possible by Shirk’s support network that is headlined by her father who is always there to support her.

With her season over, we congratulate Chloe and wish her all the best in her recovery. We look forward to reporting on all of her future accolades.

Photos provided by ELCO Volleyball

Read about this week’s LebCo Male Athletes of the Week: Camron Buchmoyer & Bryce Hoglund

For a full list of this week’s nominees, check out: Athlete of the Week Voting:  September 30 – October 6

Previous Winners

Alaina Miller (Week of August 19th)

Cameron Blouch (Week of August 26th)

Scarlett Meyer (Week of August 26th)

Avery Lechleitner (Week of September 2nd)

Delaney Miller (Week of September 9th)

Lily Rohrer (Week of September 9th)

Kailen Hibshman (Week of September 16th)

Kenadie Dunsworth (Week of September 23rd)