BENTONVILLE — Sabrina Shepherd made it a point to do her share of the little things before and after every Bentonville volleyball practice this season.
The 6-foot sophomore played a much bigger role during matches. Shepherd might have been listed as a middle blocker/outside hitter on the Lady Tigers’ roster, but she played all over the court and did her part to help Bentonville finish second in the 7A/6A-West Conference standings and reach the state tournament semifinals.
Profile
Sabrina Shepherd
SCHOOL: Bentonville
CLASS: Sophomore
HEIGHT: 6-0
NOTABLE: An all-conference performer who led the Lady Tigers with 130 total blocks (69 solos, 61 assists) while finishing second on the team in kills (274) and third in digs (255). ... Had a season-high 17 kills in an Oct. 2 match against Rogers High and 13 total blocks in a Sept. 20 against Fayetteville.
Her play and her value to the Lady Tigers made Shepherd the choice for NWA Media All-Big 7 Newcomer of the Year.
“Obviously she’s a flashy player, and everybody recognizes her when they watch a game,” Bentonville coach Michelle Smith said. “What they don’t know about her is what she does behind the scenes.
“She’s always the first to set up the nets, first one to help take them down. She’s the first to help shag balls, the first one to help the coaches on game nights. She makes an impact in other ways that people don’t see.”
Shepherd finished the season with 130 total blocks (69 solos, 61 assists), the highest total since Smith began coaching volleyball at Bentonville. That included a 13-block performance during a Sept. 20 match against eventual conference and state champion Fayetteville.
She also finished second on the team with 274 kills and third with 255 digs. It helped her to earn all-conference honors this season.
“I thought I had a great season,” Shepherd said. “I was always playing my best and doing whatever I could to help the team, and it was a very successful season.
“At the beginning of the season, there was a lot of pressure. Once you start playing, you just get used to it. It’s just playing volleyball, and it’s what I know to play. So I just played and didn’t think about it.”
Smith credited Shepherd for bringing a consistent level of play once she found her comfort zone, and there was a steady progression in her play. She recorded 13 blocks in a match against Fayetteville, then recorded a season-high 17 kills in a match against Rogers.
Her feats haven’t gone unnoticed outside the area. Shepherd will leave Wednesday for Colorado Springs, where she was one of 48 players nationwide chosen by USA Volleyball to participate in a four-day Girls’ Youth Holiday Camp.