Colony senior scores chance to play college volleyball

PALMER — Shellina Irwin’s height is deceptive.

The Colony senior volleyball standout is listed at only 5-foot-9 on paper. But Colony head coach Amy Carter said, when it comes to Irwin, don’t get too fixated on that number on paper.

“Coaches say, ‘I don’t need a 5-8 (player), I need 6-foot,’ but she plays a lot closer to 6-0 than she does to 5-8,” Carter said Monday afternoon after watching Irwin sign her National Letter of Intent to play college volleyball at North Dakota State College of Science next fall.

Irwin will attend the Wahpeton, N.D., school and play for a top junior college program that is its reigning region champion. Carter hopes Irwin gets the notice she deserves with the JUCO team.

“She’s very talented, very athletic,” Carter said.

Irwin said the program’s success and the potential to play in national tournaments helped lead to her decision.

“It’s an opportunity to get seen,” Irwin said. “In Alaska, it’s hard to get recognized.”

Irwin said, ideally, she’s like to attend and play volleyball at a four-year school. Attending NDSCS could be part of that transition for the Colony senior.

Irwin said she also considered schools in Texas and Washington, but ultimately chose the North Dakota school for its athletics and academics. Irwin plans to study environmental science.

During her time with the Colony program, Irwin has been used on the outside and in the middle. That versatility will also translate to the college game. Irwin said she expects to be used at outside hitter, and could see time at libero as well.

Irwin said she’s never stood in at libero, but the senior is no stranger to playing on the back row.

“I have back row experience, but not as much as the normal libero,” Irwin said.

Carter said Irwin is certainly capable of taking on more of a defensive role.

“She’s an all-around player. She’s got the defense, the serving, all of that,” Carter said. “She ended up the season with the exact number of digs as my libero.”

Irwin is also a standout on the Colony track and field squad, and the reigning 4A state champion in the girls shot put. She said she hasn’t closed the door to the idea of competing in track on the college level. NDSCS does not have a track team, but the opportunity could come if she transfers. Right now, Irwin’s simply exciting about continuing a volleyball career that began in the seventh grade.

“Volleyball’s really my passion,” Irwin said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.