SARAH JANE LITTLE
The bond produced by Auburn athletics through spirit, championships, involvement and pride has a way of making students feel like part of the Auburn family.
However, for one new Auburn athlete, transferring to play volleyball not only means gaining a new family, but reuniting with her own.
This year, Sarah Shanks, a transferring sophomore fromTennessee Tech, will be joining her sister on the court.
Rachel Shanks, a senior in pre-pharmacy, has been a part of Auburn’s volleyball program for three years, and she is excited to be given the opportunity to reunite with her sister.
“We have not been on a team together since she was a sophomore and I was a senior in high school,” Rachel said. “I guess this is similar. Like high school, we will only be on the team for a year together, but I am so glad I am getting a chance to compete with her again.”
Rachel started in all 31 matches last season as an outside hitter and her 487 kills, or smash hits by a frontcourt player that the opposite side it unable to return, rank her fifth in the history of Auburn’s volleyball program for single season kills.
She also holds the single season record for number of attacks, or the aggressive play of the offensive team as it hits the ball over the net, and digs, which are a defensive contact following an opponent’s attack resulting in a playable ball.
“Rachel is a great athlete,” Laura Farina, the head coach of Auburn’s volleyball team, said. “I think Sarah will be able to develop as an athlete and reach her potential here at Auburn as well.”
Sarah, a setter, recorded one official-play attack last year as a member of Tennessee Tech’s Golden Eagle volleyball team.
However, she received a redshirt and will be considered a freshman on Auburn’s team.
“I am happy I made the decision to come here,” Sarah said. “The school fits my major choice. I like the dedication of the volleyball program. The girls are all hard workers, and the coach is great. I think Auburn will make me the best player I can be with the maximum improvement, and I definitely see Rachel as an added bonus. Being around her is awesome. She is my best friend and it will be great to spend more time with her.”
Although the sister’s will not be living together, they will be spending plenty of time together on the court. “I know Sarah will work hard and give 100 percent to do what is best for the team. I do not have to wonder if she is on the same page as the rest of us. She is a hard worker, and she has already been through the transition from high school to college. We are both competitive, but we would never try to bring each other down. It is more of a competitive spirit with us. But, it also does help that we don’t play the same position.”
Sarah was first noticed by Auburn while attending volleyball camps here during high school.
Auburn began recruiting her after she decided to move on from Tennessee Tech’s program. Farina is excited to see the sisters together again.
“I always see it as a positive thing when an upperclassman thinks enough of a university and program to encourage a sibling to join,” Farina said. “It shows a foundation of good will and support. I think it will all work out very well.”
