Head Coach Kelly Sheffield on Shanahan: “Nicole 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.”
Honors: 2020-21 Big Ten Sportsmanship Honoree ...
2018 and 2019 Academic All-Big Ten ... member of the 2019 Big Ten All-Star tour of Japan
2020: Played in two matches and two sets ... averaged 0.50 kills per set ... recorded a season high one kill vs. Rutgers (Feb. 5) ... recorded a season-high three attempts vs. Rutgers (Feb. 5) ... recorded a season-high one point vs. Rutgers (Feb. 5)
2019: Played in six matches, starting three and 15 sets ... averaged 0.87 kills per set ... recorded a career-high five kills vs. Northwestern (Oct. 19) ... added 0.87 blocks per set ... had a season-high five blocks vs. Baylor (Sept. 6) ... recorded the first service ace of her career vs. Northwestern ... added a career-high two service aces at Michigan State (Oct. 25) ... tied her career high with one dig in two matches
2018: Played in three matches and five sets ... recorded a kill and a block against Northwestern (Oct. 12) ... also had a kill vs. Rutgers (Sept. 22) .. averaged 0.40 kills and 0.20 blocks per set
2017: Played in five matches, starting two and played in 10 sets ... averaged 1.20 blocks/set, 1.10 points/set and 0.50 kills/set ... recorded one kill and one block in her first collegiate game vs. Syracuse (Sept. 1) ... earned six blocks and two kills in her first start as a Badger against Marquette (Sept. 14) ... collected four blocks, two kills and a dig against Southern Miss (Sept. 16) ... notched a block against Northwestern (Oct. 28)
High school: Aided the Raccoons to two Wisconsin Little Ten Conference championship ... team also finished second at state in 2015 ... earned second-team all-state and first-team all-conference honors for Coach Michelle Bruss in 2016 ... four-year record of 64-9 ... team captain and MVP ... member of the National Honor Society and a four-year scholar athlete ... member of the Spanish Honor Society ... member of DECA and Future Business Leaders of America ... also played soccer for two seasons, earning all-conference honors as a sophomore ... also played with Milwaukee Sting ... teams qualified for nationals the last three seasons
Personal: Parents are Christine and Thomas Shanahan ... father was a swimmer at UW-Whitewater ... has one sister, Megan (24) ... born Oct. 22 ... nickname is Shanny ... major is marketing ... member of the Sports Business Club and of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
Why Wisconsin?
"I chose UW because it is one of the top volleyball programs in the country and I liked the culture of the program when I visited."
Match Highs
Kills: 5 vs. Northwestern, 10/191/9
Attacks: 14 vs. Northwestern, 10/19/19
Attack pct: .286 (2-0-7) vs. Southern Miss, 9-16-17
Assists: 0
Service aces: 2 at Michigan STate, 10/25/19
Digs: 1 (3x; MR at Clemson, 9/14/19)
Blocks: 6 vs. Marquette, 9-14-17
Points: 8.5 vs. Northwestern, 10/19/19
Off the court with Nicole
First started volleyball: fifth grade
Most memorable volleyball match: sweeping Nebraska at home to go to the Final Four
The best part of playing volleyball is: being on a team
My favorite thing about Wisconsin volleyball is: the people and passion everyone has to be part of something greater than themselves
Before each match, I: listen to music
Best UW road trip: 2019 Europe trip
One word that describes the team: Driven
One word that describes me: Passionate
What is the best thing you bring to the team? My work ethic
Favorite thing to do off the court with my teammates is: Just hangout and relax at the Terrace
Most memorable volleyball achievement: making it to the National Championship game
Is there anything significant about your uniform number? It was always my number when I played soccer growing up, but I never had the opportunity to have it in volleyball until I got to UW.
The best thing about the Field House is: the fans
Dream as a collegiate player: Win a national championship
Post-college plans/goals: grad school
The best thing about Madison is: Lake Mendota
What is your favorite Coach Sheffield saying? Get comfortable being uncomfortable
What does it mean to be a Badger?
"Being a Badger is an honor. Growing up a Badger fan, it has always been my dream to be able to put on a Wisconsin jersey and call myself a member of this team.
I don't think I can really put into words how much it means to me."
