| Former Carbon High star Monica Shorts pops the ball over the net against an opponent from the Frontier Conference. |
As the Carbon High girl’s volleyball team finishes up another fine season, one of the schools alumni continues to shine in the same game at a different place
Former Carbon player, Monica Shorts is currently playing her sophomore year for nationally ranked Westminster College of Salt Lake City.
Shorts is a setter for the Westminster team again this year. That was the same role she played for Carbon when they captured the state championship back in 2004.
Playing under Coach Bruce Bean, she learned the position well and is now ranked number 14 in the nation for assists with 10.49 per game.
Currently ranked 22 in the nation in their division, the NAIA, Westminster is second in the Frontier Conference, a league that includes Carroll College, Eastern Oregon University, Lewis and Clark State College, Montana State-Northern, Montana Tech, Rocky Mountain College, the University of Great Falls and the University of Montana-Western. They were undefeated until last week when they lost to Great Falls.
Their success is in a large part due to Shorts handling of the ball. She has been named conference setter of the week twice this season and has been nominated for that honor three more times as well. No other player in the conference has been recognized for their play on the court as often this season.
Westminster is hoping to qualify to play in the national tournament this year. The top 25 teams will get the nod to participate. It would be the first time the team has gone to the tournament.
Overall the squad is sporting a 14-8 record due to the fact they hosted a tournament early in the season and invited some of the top teams in the nation to participate. They learned a great deal from that experience even though they did not post many wins.
“That tournament has been the highlight of my year so far,” commented Shorts, “The chance to play against the top teams was really exciting.”
With a young, but experienced team this year, Westminster and Shorts are looking for several more great seasons to come.