Lady Tiger Heads to Lyon

Michayla Shanks has signed to play volleyball at Lyon College.

For three-plus years, Lady Tiger Michayla Shanks has been almost ever-present on the Republic sports scene. Volleyball in the fall. Basketball in the winter. Track and field in the spring.

Starting next fall, she’ll leave behind the orange and black for the crimson, blue, and gold of Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas. Shanks has signed to play volleyball with the Scots.

“When I got there, I just knew that’s where I was supposed to be,” Shanks says. “I talked to some of the professors. I loved the atmosphere of the college because I had the ability to go to a few games they were playing. I knew that’s where I needed to be.”

Republic volleyball coach Piper Wright says Shanks has been a big part of the last three seasons, helping the Lady Tigers win two district championships during that time.

“She’s an extremely hard worker and always has a smile on her face. She works so hard, and she’s really hard on herself and she expects a lot from herself,” Wright says. “You always want a player like that. It’s really fun to have players like that on your court. You know you can trust them. It’s just been a real joy and honor to get to coach her.”

Lyon coach Ray Green says he likes the versatility Shanks can bring to his team.

“I got to see her play this summer at the U of A team camp,” says Green. “We were looking for a versatile player that could attack from all spots on the front row. She’s a six-rotation player it looked like at the time, so that was pretty exciting to see someone who could attack and play defense.”

Shanks says the high academic standards at Lyon played a role in her decision. “They have a very high approval rate for medical school,” she says. “It’s a very small college. It’s private and the student-to-teacher ratio is 15-to-1, so you’ll be getting the teaching that you need, but you’ll also have the help that you’ll need also.”

Lyon is an NAIA school and competes in the American Midwest Conference.

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