Shelby Lasure lost her passion for volleyball but an invitation to return to club volleyball offered the sport a second chance.

“I got talked into going back to club volleyball and I fell back in love with (the sport),” said Lasure. “Ever since then, I’ve really wanted to go play in college.”

Lasure made that dream a reality Friday in the Golden Bear Room at Shelbyville High School. The senior made her commitment official to play volleyball at Anderson University.

“It’s a great place. I love the environment. I love the people there,” she said. “They were very welcoming and the campus is beautiful.”

Lasure seriously considered four other schools but all were out of state. Knowing her family would be close by played a big part in the decision. She will major in Biology with graduate school in her future to become a genetic counselor.

“I fell in love with (genetics) in middle school when I was introduced to it in Biology class,” she said. “My sister has a genetic heart condition. That happened and I got to experience what these genetic counselors do in their everyday job. That’s what I want to do. I have that personal connection now.”

Lasure led Shelbyville in kills (237) her senior year and was second in service aces (31) and third in digs (195). A solid, steady presence for Shelbyville, she hopes to continue that role at Anderson.

“They particularly picked me as an outside hitter but I have been working on my defensive specialist (skills) and back row work to be an all-around player,” said Lasure.

With her club team, Team Indiana, Lasure plays all-around as an outside hitter and middle back.

On Friday, Lasure had a large group of friends and family present for her signing ceremony.

“It’s liberating. It’s a great feeling,” she said after it was over. “I’m set and I know what I’m doing. Now, I just have to wait for the day when it all comes true.”

Lasure is looking forward to playing with dedicated volleyball athletes at the next level.

“5-26 wasn’t exactly the senior season I was expecting,” said Lasure of Shelbyville’s 2022 season. “Getting to go forward and experience (the game) with a new team, they all want to be on the court and it’s not just for the fun of it. I think that will be different in terms of the anatomy of the team because some people here (at Shelbyville) just play volleyball for fun and that’s a good reason to play.

“But if you are going to college it’s because you want to be there. You want to be on the court.”

Two years ago, Lasure had no idea what her future looked like in terms of athletics or academics. Now, she has a plan in place that starts with being a freshman at Anderson.

“No. Not really but it’s a new challenge,” said Lasure when asked if she was ready to be a freshman. “It’s a new way to see life, to see it in a different way than I’ve been able to experience it before.”

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