Haskell’s Aspen Sheperd selected All-Conference

Posted by Oree Foster | Dec 3, 2015 | Volleyball |

FORT DEFIANCE

Navajo Times | File photo
Rehoboth’s Ben Kruis (white jersey) looks ahead during the New Mexico Class 1A-4A state soccer match against Ruidoso. Kruis scored the winning goal for the Lynx as Rehoboth advanced with a 1-0 win.

Haskell Indian Nations University junior middle hitter Aspen Sheperd turned in a superb volleyball season, as she was selected to Association of Independent Institutions Second Team All-Conference.

During the previous years, Haskell competed in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference. The conference disbanded and Haskell joined the Association of Independent Institutions this year.

Haskell, located in Lawrence, Kan., is a four-year university and a member of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Sheperd said the past season brought a lot of challenges that the team had to overcome. She said most of the challenges were within the team.

“I would say it was more of our mental game that we needed to work on,” Sheperd said.

“The season was full of tough teams we had competed against, and so the games were always so intense. We had a very young team with only one senior, and so it was difficult to be able to come together as a team and get on the same page. But this year taught us a lot, and if we put together all that we learned along with dedication and hard work, then I know we can rise above the little complications we had and become a united team.”