Shannan McCready’s senior year has gone more like a football player’s would.

A defensive specialist on the Arizona State women’s volleyball team, McCready has dealt with multiple injuries this season, starting with a dislocated shoulder and a torn labrum suffered in mid-July.

Postponing surgery until the end of her season, McCready finally started to get into a rhythm back on the floor when a collision in practice resulted in a concussion, forcing her back out of the rotation.

She’s returned for the past two weeks and has been a part of two big wins, including a five-set victory on the road over then-No. 11 Oregon last weekend.

"I’ve been pretty injury prone, but right now it’s going good," McCready said of her senior year. "I’m glad I’m getting to play now."

McCready credits her toughness to growing up with three older brothers who all played sports.

She played soccer for the Leahi Soccer Club, but volleyball was where she was strongest.

She had an opportunity to play at Marquette lined up for college but started to wonder if the Midwest was right for her.

After a last-minute visit to Arizona State, McCready realized she had an opportunity to play in an environment more suited to her.

"I started thinking (playing in the Midwest) was not really for me," McCready said. "I ended up randomly talking to (Arizona State) toward the end of my senior year and it all happened really fast. It was the best decision I’ve ever made."

McCready earned the starting setter’s job midway through her freshman season and led the team with 689 assists. She also finished fifth in the Pac-12, averaging 10.77 per set.

Her role was reduced as a sophomore to the backup setter job while also working as a serving specialist.

For her senior year, she switched positions and is now the team’s defensive specialist, which given her shoulder injury, has been a blessing in disguise.

"It’s worked out well," she said. "I don’t have very good rotation (in my shoulder) right now, so I couldn’t even backset, which would be a problem."

The Sun Devils have advanced to the first round of the NCAA tournament each of the past two years but have been knocked out in five sets in the opening round both times, including last season’s loss to Brigham Young at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The Sun Devils are currently ranked No. 19 in the country with a 15-7 overall record.

ASU is 5-5 in Pac-12 play but has been on the road for six of its 10 games. The Sun Devils host Utah and Colorado this weekend with a chance to rise in both the conference standings and the overall rankings.

"We’ve split every conference weekend so far and we’re trying to get better every week and take care of business," McCready said. "We’re trying not to worry so much about the outcome, but definitely going a lot further (in the tournament) this year is a huge goal for us."

McCready is one of six Hawaii high school graduates playing in the Pac-12.

The others are Arizona’s Penina Snuka (Kahuku) and Kalei Mau (Kaiser), Oregon’s Chelsey Keoho (Kamehameha), UCLA’s Rachel Inouye (Punahou) and Utah’s Adora Anae (Kahuku).

SHANNON MCCREADY

School: Arizona State

Class: Senior

Height: 5 feet 7

Position: DS

High school: Punahou (2011)