Liberty alum and King’s College freshman Carly Shire has just completed her first collegiate volleyball season, and it couldn’t have gone better for the setter-turned-defensive specialist and the Monarchs.

“I started the first game of the season with five seniors which was nerve-wracking but very exciting,” Shire said. “I knew how important every game was for our eight seniors because of their loss of their junior year due to COVID. I wanted to play the best I absolutely could every game. While I put a lot of pressure on myself it helped me become a better player, especially since I’ve never been formally trained as a defense player. I was nervous to serve-receive, but my coach (Bernie Kachinko) is phenomenal and helped my confidence level doing it.”

The Monarchs finished the season with an outstanding record and qualified for MAC Freedom playoffs but fell to Arcadia University in the opening round. Shire recorded nine digs in the match.

“Overall, our record was 22-5 which was an amazing season, and I couldn’t be happier with the result,” said Shire. “Personally, the game I will remember was against Lycoming. We went to five sets, and winning would guarantee a spot in the playoffs.”

Shire had a career high 15 digs in that match.

“I couldn’t be happier with my decision to play volleyball in college,” she said. “It has caused me to become more focused and organized with classes and time management. I also came into college with 13 friends. I’ve only known them for three months and they feel like my sisters. We all get together even now that the season has ended, and I consider them my best friends. So, the overall highlight of this season was making new best friends here at college.”

Shire is majoring in English Secondary Education.