Coming from an athletic family, volleyball has always played a significant role in Gabrielle Shilling’s life.
At Notre Dame Preparatory School, in Pontiac, Michigan, Shilling was a two-year captain of her volleyball team, leading them to three district championships. Shilling achieved much success during her four years, making First Team All-State in 2017 and being a Miss Volleyball nominee in 2018.
After graduating, Shilling continued her volleyball career at the University of Rhode Island, adapting to the transition between high school and Division I competition.
During her six years at URI, Shilling played 125 career matches, the most in program history through the rally point era. Additionally, Shilling made the 2023 Yale Invitational All-Tournament Team, the 2020 and 2021 Atlantic 10 All-Championship Team and the 2019 CCSU Invitational All-Tournament Team. She was also awarded MVP of the 2021 URI Alumni Weekend Invitational Tournament. In her final season, Shilling recorded a total of 111 kills, 85 blocks and 16 digs.
Shilling said that the biggest areas of growth she saw during her time at URI was taking accountability and being empathetic as a leader.
“You get to the Division I level and everyone is just as good if not better,” Shilling said. “Learning to compete at a higher level, adjust from failures and be able to remain healthy for an entire season is extremely different at the collegiate level.”
Throughout her time with the Rams, Shilling experienced a lot of turnover, playing under three different head coaches and multiple support staff. Being able to navigate through that adversity allowed Shilling to become more “adaptable,” as well as being a better leader, person and teammate, she said.
“I didn’t always have the personal stats that I wanted for myself, but I feel like that was all part of the process,” Shilling said. “I wouldn’t trade my college experience for anything even if it wasn’t what I initially expected when I decided to come here at 17 [years old].”
Having leadership experience in the past, Shilling said she taught a young Rhode Island volleyball team how to lead by example on and off the court.
“Being a sixth year, it’s really easy to get into the role of being complacent and comfortable, and [Shilling] has probably had the best season physically and statically that she’s had,” said URI volleyball Head Coach Angel Agu.
One of Shilling’s favorite memories playing volleyball at URI is the annual video made from underclassmen to honor the seniors during senior night, she said. These videos include all the photos and memories of the team together, including messages from family and friends of the seniors. Shilling said she remembers watching the videos every year leading up to her final year, so when it was finally her turn to experience this moment hearing from friends and loved ones about how proud they are of her, she described it as “a full circle moment.”
Shilling will finish grad school in December, however, she still has aspirations of continuing her volleyball career overseas in a few months. Shilling also said she plans on going to law school in the near future with the hope of becoming an agent in sports and entertainment law. Although Shilling’s time at URI has come to an end, the impact she left on her team both on and off the court will always be there.