Senior Shannon McGrath capped off her decorated four-year career with the Union College women’s volleyball team.
She earned AVCA All-America honorable mention for the 2025 season.
The American Volleyball Coaches Association announced the honor on Wednesday morning.
McGrath is the seventh player in Union volleyball history to be named an AVCA All-American.
She’s the first since Kat Moeller ’17 was recognized for the second time in her career in 2016.
A two-time All-Conference first-team selection, McGrath was a four-time All-Conference honoree overall. She finished her career with her best season yet.
The senior led the Garnet Chargers in kills for the fourth consecutive year with 407.
She also ranked second on the team with 39 service aces and 290 digs. McGrath finished third in the conference and fourth in the region in kills.
She also placed third in the conference and sixth in the region in points per set.
Among Liberty League players, she ranked 12th in hitting percentage.
Among hitters with more than 600 attempts, she ranked third. She also placed 10th in digs per set.
McGrath recorded at least eight kills in every match this season. She reached double figures in 25 of 28 outings. She finished the year with 14 double-doubles.
As a result, she finished second on the school’s all-time single-season list in kills per set (4.24).
She ranked eighth in both single-season kills and hitting percentage (.264).
The two-year captain completed her decorated career fifth all-time in kills (1,297). She finished second in kills per set (3.51) at Union.
McGrath also graduates as one of six players in program history to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career.
That rare double achievement showcases her all-around excellence.
She helped the Garnet Chargers to a 67-48 record over her four years.
The team made three conference tournament appearances. They reached the Liberty League semifinals twice.
McGrath’s freshman season showed immediate promise. She started all 22 of her appearances as a first-year. She led the team with 283 kills and 47 service aces.
Her sophomore campaign saw continued growth. She appeared in all 26 matches with 25 starts. McGrath led the team with 270 kills and 12 double-doubles.
As a junior, she appeared in 105 of the team’s 107 sets. She earned team Most Valuable Player honors. McGrath led the team in kills for the third straight season with 337.
Her senior year brought career-best numbers.
The 407 kills set a personal record. Her .264 hitting percentage ranked among the best in school history.
McGrath came to Union from John Glenn High School. She led her high school team to a Class B state championship. She earned All-State first-team honors as a senior.
She was named one of Newsday’s Top 50 Players on Long Island twice. McGrath earned Tournament MVP honors in back-to-back Suffolk County titles.
At Union, she maintained academic excellence alongside athletic success.
She earned Liberty League All-Academic Team honors in 2023 and 2024. She was named Freshman Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2022-23.
The outside hitter’s consistency defined her career. She never had a season below 270 kills. She improved her hitting percentage each year.
Her leadership as a two-year captain helped shape the program’s culture. Teammates looked to her in crucial moments. Coaches trusted her to deliver.
The AVCA All-America honor provides a fitting cap to McGrath’s career. It recognizes both her individual excellence and team contributions.
She leaves Union as one of the program’s all-time greats. Future Garnet Chargers will chase the standards she set. Her legacy will endure for years to come.
