Bio

When it comes to Grizzly Volleyball, Amy Lusk Sheble epitomizes the culture of the program

"The culture of a team determines the success of a team. Amy not only played the game at a high level, but she fostered the culture of what Grizzly Volleyball is all about, and not everyone does that. Her impact on the team was not just in her ability to play the game, it was so much more than that. Amy made us better because of her determination and enthusiasm for the game she loves, and it showed in her actions and effort," says Head Coach Paula Wiedemann of the 2015 Grizzly Hall of Fame inductee.

Sheble came to the Grizzlies in 2003 after a four-year career at Kalaheo High School in Kailua, Hawaii, where she was named team MVP. She also played for the top ranked Hawaii club volleyball team for girls age 16-18, the Oahu Volleyball Club, which placed third at national and fourth in the Davis Cup in 2003. Although an ACL injury sidelined her after signing with the Grizzleis in 2003, she attacked her rehabilitation throughout the year and came back as one of the Grizzlies' top players for the next two seasons.

"When we first saw game film on Amy, we knew immediately we wanted her to be a part of our program," Wiedemann said. "It was obvious she was a strong, smooth player who could not only take a great swing, but also could pass and play defense as well. We knew she had the ability to be a great all-around player, and that is exactly what she became."

Sheble quickly made her presence known in her first season as a Grizzly, helping the team earn its first ever No. 1 ranking form the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) on Sept. 14, 2004. She earned honorable mention all-tournament team honors at the Jefferson College Invitational Oct. 8-9 and helped guide the Grizzleis to its sixth consecutive NJCAA Region 16 Championship and a seventh-place finish at the NJCAA Division I Women's National Volleyball Championship Tournament that same season., She also earned All-Region 16 team honors along the way.

Sheble's determination and leadership qualities took center stage as the 2005 season began. She led the Grizzlies in nearly every statistical category in their first match of the season against Lake Land College in Mattoon, Ill., and she had a team-leading 69 kills, .321 attacking percentage, five aces, 59 digs, two blocks and 2.48 passing rating at the annual Salt Lake Community College Invitational in Utah to earn all-tournament honors at that two-day event. She went on to earn all-tournament team honors in the Physical Therapy Specialists Clinic Tournament of Champions later in the season.

She also helped the Grizzlies pick up their seventh consecutive NJCAA Regiona 16 Championship trophy, once again earning all-region team honors for her individual efforts, and she guided the Grizzlies to a third-place finish at the national tournament in 2005.

"Amy was a huge part of our continued success," Wiedemann said. "Her talent was not only being a good player, but making others on her team better. She was a big part of us getting back to the final four at nationals her sophomore year. Her ability to play the game and her consistency throughout the year gave us the confidence to get there."

It also left a mark on the Grizzly record books. At the time of her departure in 2005, Sheble was sixth in career attacking percentage (.294) for outside/right side hitters; seventh in career attacking attempts (1,921), career kills (810) and career points earned (937); eighth in career passing rating (2.38); and 11th in career digs (843), and she remains among the leaders in these same categories today.

Although the Grizzlies saw a lot of success during her tenure with the team, Sheble said it's the off-court bonding activities that developed into her fondest memories as a Grizzly. "The best memories I have are with the girls at the cabin going floating. Each year, this trip helped us get to know each other, our personalities and interests. It was a great bonding moment that helped us during our season," she stated. "My favorite memory was when we went to a tournament in Florida. After our matches, we got to play on the beach."

"Being a Grizzly was a lifeline for me," she added. "In my mind it always symbolized hope. I felt I could conquer any obstacle because we were taught to fight and to be dedicated to and focused in volleyball and education. This transferred over into everyday life, as well."

Sheble graduated from Missouri State-West Plains in May 2006 with an Assoicate of Arts in General Studies degree and transferred to Georgia Sate University in Atlanta, where she played for the Panthers Volleyball Team during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Although with the program only two season, Sheble left her mark, placing fifth in career kills per set (3.59), sixth in career digs per set (3.37), seventh in career points per set (4.06) and 10th in kills per set in a season (3.71 in 2006). In 2007, she was named to the All-Colonial Athletic Conference third team, and she is one of five members of the program's 1,000/1,000 Club, racking up a total of 1,216 kills and 1,440 digs combined during her entire collegiate career.

In 2008, Sheble graduated from Georgia State with a bachelor's degree in sociology. She currently lives in Bismark, ND. with her husband, Chris, and seven month old son, Noah, and works as a stay-at-home mom. She continues to play volleyball for a sand volleyball league in her spare time.

Although her time as a Grizzily is nearly a decade past, Sheble said she still remembers her time in the program fondly. "I loved it! The community, coaches, staff members, teachers - all were so supportive. West Plains brings people from all over the world together and makes them a family. To this day, Missouri State-West Plains has stuck with me. It's a part of my life I will never forget and that I will always fully appreciate and truly love."

Grizzly Career Statistics

• 2004-2005
• Total Games Played 288
• Kills 810 * 2.81/games
• Attack Attempts 1,871
• Attacking Percentage .304
• Assists 77 * .27/game
• Blocks 80 * .28/game
• Aces 48
• Digs 843 * 2.93/game
• Points Earned 938

Amy's Georgia State University Career Stats

• 2006-2007
• Total Games Played 117
• Kills 636 * 3.59/game
• Attack Attempts 1,856
• Attacking Percentage .184
• Assists 28 * .16/game
• Blocks 89 * .50/game
• Aces 31
• Digs 597 * 3.37/game
• Points Earned 718