Karoline Shelton was no slouch in 2019 for the Hillsdale College volleyball team, earning first team All-G-MAC honors in an impressive sophomore campaign.
If the first week of the Spring 2021 season is any indication, though, the Charger junior is just getting started.
Shelton picked up the first Great Midwest Athletic Conference Offensive Athlete of the Week award in volleyball, the conference office announced on Monday, after leading the Chargers to two three-set victories in G-MAC play to open the 2021 campaign. It's the second G-MAC AotW award Shelton has earned in her career.
The Shawnee, Kansas native started the season with a 13 kill, six dig effort in a three-set win over Trevecca Nazarene on Friday night, coming just two kills short of her career high in a three-set match while also contributing three service aces and two block assists.
On Saturday, Shelton saw more limited playing time but was still impressive in a three-set victory over Kentucky Wesleyan, leading the Chargers in kills again with nine and contributing five digs.
Over the weekend, Shelton was not only productive, with 22 kills, but also efficient, with just two attack errors and a .339 hitting percentage. She ranks sixth in the G-MAC in hitting percentage and seventh in kills per set (3.67) through the first weekend, one of just two players in the conference to be in the top 10 in both categories.
Shelton was an all-around asset for the Chargers in 2019, finishing second on the team with 339 kills behind All-American middle hitter Allyssa Van Wienen, and also second on the team in digs with 402, with only All-American libero Taylor Wiese beating Shelton in that category.
The Chargers and Shelton will look to remain unbeaten as they hit the road for the first time this weekend, traveling to Malone at 7 p.m. on Friday and Walsh at 11 a.m. on Saturday for G-MAC contests.
Photo by Anthony Lupi