Montana State Volleyball Program Adds Three Standouts to Roster for 2020 Season
11/13/2019 1:17:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Montana State head volleyball coach Daniel Jones, who is currently guiding the Bobcats to one of its best seasons in recent memory, has announced that three high school standouts will join the Bobcat program for the 2020 season.
BOZEMAN, Mont. – Montana State head volleyball coach Daniel Jones, who is currently guiding the Bobcats to one of its best seasons in recent memory, has announced that three high school standouts will join the Bobcat program for the 2020 season.
Joining the Bobcats next season will be Shayla Webber, a 5-4 defensive specialist/libero from Joliet; Kelly Cross, a 5-10 outside hitter/defensive specialist from Truckee, Calif.; and Delaney Shearan, a 5-7 setter from Phoenix, Ariz.
Webber, a three-time all-state selection, has led Joliet to a 21-8 overall mark this season and a trip to the Montana Class B state tournament this week in Bozeman. A four-time all-conference pick, Webber has totaled 1,791 assists, 1,232 digs, 592 kills and 214 aces during her career with the J-Hawks. She has started every match as a varsity player since her freshman season and has guided the squad to the state tournament each season, as well. A three-time team captain, Webber has excelled off the court being named academic all-state on four occasions and is a National Honor Society member.
"Ever since arriving at MSU it has been my stated goal to attract the best volleyball players in the state of Montana to play here," Jones said. "With Shayla's commitment to our program we have surely got one of the best players in the state. She is an all-around athlete who has excelled in multiple positions and multiple sports.
"Shayla comes from a volleyball family; she has a high IQ for the game and is going to bring a passion and enthusiasm to continuing to build our legacy that only someone born and raised in the state of Montana can," Jones continued. "She bleeds Blue and Gold, and is a spark plug of a young woman. I am excited to get her in the gym and train her up."
Cross, who preps at Truckee High School, is a four-year starter that helped lead the Wolverines to the Nevada State 3A title as a freshman and a second-place finish as a junior. This season, THS is 27-5 overall and 18-0 in league action. As a junior, she was a first-team all-state pick and the Nevada 3A MVP. She is one of only three players in Truckee volleyball history to post 1,000 career kills. A three-time academic all-state honoree and a distinguished scholar, Cross was a two-time Future Select A2 HO USA National Team pick in 2014 and 2015. She has played club ball with the Northern Nevada Juniors, who captured the 2019 regional championship and produced current Bobcat Emma Pence.
"Kelly comes with a passion and enthusiasm for the legacy we are building at Montana State," Jones said. "She is an athletic outside hitter with a very good passing touch and will make an immediate impact on our program. Kelly comes from the same club program as Emma Pence, Northern Nevada Juniors (NNJ), who do an excellent job in preparing their athletes for the rigors of NCAA Division I volleyball."
Shearan, who preps at Seton Catholic Preparatory, has helped the Sentinels to a 22-5 mark this fall. A three-time first-team all-region pick, she garnered 2018 regional MVP accolades. Shearan was also named 2017 all-section MVP, as well. During her time at SCP, she has amassed 2,324 assists, 728 digs, 233 aces and 220 kills. She was the 2018 and 2019 recipient of the volleyball Sentinel award. Shearan played club ball with the East Valley Juniors. Off the court, she is a National Honor Society member and has won academic department awards in biology and geometry.
"We've been watching Delaney for what feels like an eternity," Jones stated. "In Delaney we have a specialist setter who is coming in from both high-level club and high school programs. She understands the game very well and is immediately going to help make our gym more competitive.
"Delaney comes from an outstanding family; she is a high character individual who has approached the recruiting process with integrity," Jones added. "She has witnessed the development of our program and is fully invested in Bobcat volleyball and the legacy we are building."
Joining the Bobcats next season will be Shayla Webber, a 5-4 defensive specialist/libero from Joliet; Kelly Cross, a 5-10 outside hitter/defensive specialist from Truckee, Calif.; and Delaney Shearan, a 5-7 setter from Phoenix, Ariz.
Webber, a three-time all-state selection, has led Joliet to a 21-8 overall mark this season and a trip to the Montana Class B state tournament this week in Bozeman. A four-time all-conference pick, Webber has totaled 1,791 assists, 1,232 digs, 592 kills and 214 aces during her career with the J-Hawks. She has started every match as a varsity player since her freshman season and has guided the squad to the state tournament each season, as well. A three-time team captain, Webber has excelled off the court being named academic all-state on four occasions and is a National Honor Society member.
"Ever since arriving at MSU it has been my stated goal to attract the best volleyball players in the state of Montana to play here," Jones said. "With Shayla's commitment to our program we have surely got one of the best players in the state. She is an all-around athlete who has excelled in multiple positions and multiple sports.
"Shayla comes from a volleyball family; she has a high IQ for the game and is going to bring a passion and enthusiasm to continuing to build our legacy that only someone born and raised in the state of Montana can," Jones continued. "She bleeds Blue and Gold, and is a spark plug of a young woman. I am excited to get her in the gym and train her up."
Cross, who preps at Truckee High School, is a four-year starter that helped lead the Wolverines to the Nevada State 3A title as a freshman and a second-place finish as a junior. This season, THS is 27-5 overall and 18-0 in league action. As a junior, she was a first-team all-state pick and the Nevada 3A MVP. She is one of only three players in Truckee volleyball history to post 1,000 career kills. A three-time academic all-state honoree and a distinguished scholar, Cross was a two-time Future Select A2 HO USA National Team pick in 2014 and 2015. She has played club ball with the Northern Nevada Juniors, who captured the 2019 regional championship and produced current Bobcat Emma Pence.
"Kelly comes with a passion and enthusiasm for the legacy we are building at Montana State," Jones said. "She is an athletic outside hitter with a very good passing touch and will make an immediate impact on our program. Kelly comes from the same club program as Emma Pence, Northern Nevada Juniors (NNJ), who do an excellent job in preparing their athletes for the rigors of NCAA Division I volleyball."
Shearan, who preps at Seton Catholic Preparatory, has helped the Sentinels to a 22-5 mark this fall. A three-time first-team all-region pick, she garnered 2018 regional MVP accolades. Shearan was also named 2017 all-section MVP, as well. During her time at SCP, she has amassed 2,324 assists, 728 digs, 233 aces and 220 kills. She was the 2018 and 2019 recipient of the volleyball Sentinel award. Shearan played club ball with the East Valley Juniors. Off the court, she is a National Honor Society member and has won academic department awards in biology and geometry.
"We've been watching Delaney for what feels like an eternity," Jones stated. "In Delaney we have a specialist setter who is coming in from both high-level club and high school programs. She understands the game very well and is immediately going to help make our gym more competitive.
"Delaney comes from an outstanding family; she is a high character individual who has approached the recruiting process with integrity," Jones added. "She has witnessed the development of our program and is fully invested in Bobcat volleyball and the legacy we are building."
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