MADISON, Wis. – Head coach
Kelly Sheffield has announced the addition of two athletes to the 2017 Wisconsin volleyball roster. Defensive specialist Tiffany Clark and middle blocker Nicole Shanahan will join the Badgers this season.
"I was really surprised when I heard from Tiffany after the spring," Sheffield said. "I've watched her play quite a bit throughout her club career and have always liked how she plays the game. Tiffany is the ultimate competitor – everything matters. She is locked in during practices and is extremely resilient in matches. She has such a high motor and just loves playing the game.
"Tiffany's been trained well and is coming in with a lot of experience in playing in the Big Ten and as the starting libero for the USA Junior National Team. She makes our already good backcourt even deeper and better. She didn't waste any time getting on campus and I know players are already enjoying having her in the gym."
A 5-11 libero/defensive specialist, Clark played her freshman season at the University of Michigan, seeing action in 35 matches and 131 sets. Clark ranked fifth on the team with 1.82 digs per set, recording double-figure digs in nine matches. She had a career-high 20 digs against Penn State on Oct. 22. Clark also added 23 service aces on the year, averaging 0.18 aces per set. Clark was named to the 2017 USA Junior National team, winning a gold medal at the Pan Am Cup.
A native of Naperville, Illinois, Clark prepped at Benet Academy for Coach Brad Baker. She aided the Redwings to the 2014 state championship and a runner-up finish in 2013. Clark was named the 2015 East Suburban Catholic Conference Player of the Year.
Clark also played at Sports Performance under head coach Rick Butler, winning three consecutive AAU national titles with UW teammate
Molly Haggerty. Clark was ranked as the No. 24 PrepVolleyball Senior Ace in 2016. She was also a 2015 Under Armour Second-Team All-American and a
Volleyball Fab 50 selection.
Shanahan, a 6-1 middle blocker, attended Oconomowoc High School in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. The Raccoons were two-time Wisconsin Little Ten Conference champions and finished second at state in 2015. Shanahan earned second-team all-state and first-team all-conference honors for Coach Michelle Bruss in 2016. Oconomowoc went 64-9 during her four seasons with Shanahan being named team captain and MVP. A standout in the classroom, Shanahan is a member of the National Honor Society and a four-year scholar athlete.
"It's unusual for a player that has Nicole's ability to be uncommitted in her senior year – especially late in her senior year," explained Sheffield. "She will give us much more depth in the middle which I'm excited about.
"I've watched Nicole quite a bit throughout the club season and I really like how hard she works. She works hard to get out and close on the block, and works to get up and available in transition. Nicole arrives on campus in a week and I know is excited to get started."
Shanahan also played with Milwaukee Sting for Coach Scott Blackmon. Her teams qualified for nationals the last three seasons.
