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Keirra Sholl
During the opening weeks of the fall season, Keirra Sholl has shown just how many different ways she can impact a volleyball match for ELCO. That was especially evident at the Pine Grove Tournament, where the junior helped the Raiders work their way through a 15-team field and finish as the tournament runner-up. Sholl contributed across the board, finishing the day with 32 kills, 34 digs, 6 blocks, and 6 aces as ELCO advanced all the way to the championship match.
The Raiders went 6-2 during pool play before defeating Mahanoy, 25-19, in the quarterfinals and Pottsgrove, 25-16, in the semifinals. Their run ended with a 25-20 loss to Tri-Valley in the final, but the tournament added to what has been a strong opening stretch for ELCO.
In addition to its success at Pine Grove, the Raiders have begun the season 3-1 in match play. The start included 3 victories across 3 consecutive nights following the tournament. ELCO battled its way to a 5-set victory over Northern Lebanon, followed that with a straight-set win over Lampeter-Strasburg, and then defeated Wyomissing in 4 sets. Sholl continued to fill the stat sheet during that stretch, including a 21-kill, 12-dig performance against Wyomissing.
For Sholl, the early success has come from maintaining the same approach regardless of the situation.
“I’ve been playing 100% every game, bringing energy no matter what situation we are in, and putting up strong numbers for my team,” she explained.
Her all-around effort also caught the attention of LebCoSports.com voters, who selected Sholl as a LebCo Athlete of the Week.
For ELCO head coach Wes Harpold, Sholl’s ability to contribute in so many different areas is what separates her.
“Keirra Sholl has developed into one of the most complete all-around volleyball players in ELCO volleyball history,” Harpold said. “As an offensive player, she possesses an exceptionally high volleyball IQ and a versatile attacking game.”
Harpold has seen Sholl develop the ability to attack defenses in different ways rather than relying solely on power.
“Keirra can deliver powerful spikes to virtually any area of the court, but she is equally effective at changing speeds and keeping defenses off balance with a well-timed tip over the block or a perfectly placed push into an open corner.”
Her contributions are hardly limited to the offensive side. The 34 digs she collected at Pine Grove offered another example of the defensive ability that has made her such a valuable all-around player.
“Defensively, Keirra’s ability to read opposing hitters allows her to anticipate plays and consistently put herself in the right position,” Harpold explained. “Her court awareness, coverage, and accurate passing make her a valuable presence on defense.”
For Sholl, however, her role with the Raiders involves more than accumulating kills, digs, blocks, and aces. She takes pride in the energy she brings and in being someone her teammates can count on.
“I have been a good teammate to every athlete on the team. I keep a good attitude and good energy, and have been a consistent contributor to wins.”
That approach has also stood out to Harpold, who described Sholl as “a leader by example.”
“She is a dedicated, hard-working teammate who is willing to do whatever is necessary to make ELCO a better volleyball team.”
Sholl’s goals for the season follow a similar theme. While she wants to continue building her individual numbers, she sees those accomplishments in terms of what they can do for the Raiders.
“My personal goals for the season are to be the best player I can possibly be, as well as build up stats for my team.”
Getting to this point has required Sholl to work through some physical challenges. She has dealt with the difficulties that come with being an undersized hitter, while also working her way back from knee surgery. More recently, she has been competing while trying to overcome an injured quad.
None of those obstacles have kept Sholl from becoming a multi-sport athlete at ELCO.
When volleyball season ends, she turns her attention to Track & Field, where she competes in the Triple Jump. Last spring, Sholl advanced to the Lancaster-Lebanon League Championships and earned an 8th-place medal in the Triple Jump with a mark of 34’2”.
The combination of volleyball and Track & Field is something Sholl hopes to continue beyond high school. She would like to attend college, compete in both volleyball and the Triple Jump, and pursue a degree in criminology.
Athletics also run in the Sholl family. Keirra’s older sister, Carli Sholl, attended Lebanon Valley College and played volleyball for the Dutchmen for 3 years.
Long before Keirra became a standout in volleyball and the jumps, she also had success in another sport. Sholl spent 5 years competing in gymnastics and became a national qualifier before eventually turning her athletic focus elsewhere.
When she is not practicing, competing, or training, Sholl said most of her time is spent doing schoolwork or hanging out with friends. Those relationships are also a major part of what she values about sports, with Sholl pointing to “the lifelong friendships you make” as what she enjoys most about competing.
There are also several people she credits with helping her reach this point.
“I would like to thank my coaches, my parents, and my boyfriend for always being there for me and for pushing me to the best of my ability.”
With plenty of volleyball still ahead this fall, Sholl will have more opportunities to help ELCO build on its strong start while continuing to develop into the player she wants to become.
Congratulations to Keirra on earning LebCo Athlete of the Week honors, and best of luck to her and the Raiders throughout the remainder of the season.
Photos provided by ELCO Volleyball
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