April 7, 2017

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina freshman volleyball student-athlete Mikayla Shields was named to the USA Women’s Junior National Team this week. The Orlando, Fla. native is the first member of the program since Shonda Cole in 2006 to make an American national team.

Shields tried out for the national team along with teammate Aubrey Ezell in early March. Next up for her will be the Pan American Cup in San Jose, Costa Rica from May 8-13. The tournament is the final opportunity for the national team to qualify for the FIVB Junior World Championships (July 12-24) in Cordoba and Boca del Rio, Mexico. Should the team qualify, Shields would then go to another training camp for a shot on the World Championship team.

Shields is coming off one of the best freshman seasons in program history, culminating with a spot on the AVCA All-Region honorable mention team. She led the team with 341 kills (3.25 per set) and hit .308, shattering the program’s freshman record for hitting percentage in the rally-scoring era.