Megan Sheridan leaps at the net during a match this season. Photo courtesy of Butler Athletics.

SYDNEY DIGRAZIA | STAFF REPORTER | sdigrazi@butler.edu 

A Harry Potter fan, an avid player of Mario Kart and a pancake lover. These are just a few things that describe Megan Sheridan. 

Sheridan is the middle child of her family of five, and has an older brother and a younger sister. 

Sheridan is also the daughter of Lisa and Bob Sheridan, both athletes themselves. Her mother played volleyball and basketball, and her father played basketball. 

“My parents have been my role models growing up because they always set a good example for me,” Sheridan said. “I wanted to follow what they did.” 

Sheridan was a three-sport athlete at nearby Zionsville Community High School, playing basketball, track and volleyball throughout her four years. 

At Zionsville, Sheridan recorded a school record for the most kills in a single volleyball season, tallying 454 kills. She began playing volleyball in seventh grade and played club volleyball at Team Indiana. As an outside and right side hitter for the Butler volleyball team, Sheridan is a versatile player. 

Sheridan signed to play volleyball at Butler in November 2018, and as the team started the preseason in August, her impact was immediately seen. 

Sheridan ranks fifth on the team in kills and has started in 16 out of the 22 games played this season. 

“Her role on the team is to be the best version of herself,” assistant coach Sofia Sanchez said in an email to The Butler Collegian. “She is currently a freshman, so she has a lot of career ahead of her. But I think she has the potential to be one of Butler’s great outside hitters if she keeps up her work ethic and drive.” 

As for the specific adjustment to playing on the Butler volleyball team, senior defensive specialist Emma Milstead spoke highly of Sheridan’s contributions. 

“Megan has impacted us a lot, she came in right away and really started pushing us to be better and was in the talk of playing time as soon as she got here,” Milstead said. “She has really added to the depth of our right side and outside hitter positions.”

Sheridan said her role is to get blocks and kills for the team. Her career-best performance came early in the season on Aug. 31 against Auburn when she tallied 17 kills, seven digs and four blocks. 

“I always tell myself ‘do the best you can, do what you can do, focus on what you are good at, and let that help the team,’” Sheridan said. 

Sheridan is one of three freshmen on the 2019 team that also includes five seniors. 

“I think their youthful exuberance in a way has helped keep everyone positive and have a different outlook on things,” Milstead said. 

Adjusting to life as a college athlete can be extremely hard, and Sheridan has seen its challenges. 

“It’s been difficult, going from practice to weights to class, and at first I was really tired all the time,” Sheridan said. “Once I got it all figured out, I found a way to balance everything, but it definitely takes some time to adjust to college.” 

Sheridan takes being a student-athlete very seriously and realizes that without her academics, volleyball would not be possible. Currently in exploratory business, Sheridan plans to pursue a major within the Lacy School of Business and pursue law school after college. 

“Megan Sheridan is one of the most coachable players,” Sanchez said in an email. “Her desire to learn and improve is what is getting her on the court as a freshman. And the best thing about Megan is, it’s hard to catch her not smiling or with a great attitude, which as a coach I absolutely appreciate and love about her.”

Playing so close to home has been a blessing for Sheridan. 

“I was not sure if I was going to like being so close to home, but so far it has been very convenient,” Sheridan said. “I get to see my family all the time and they get to see me play, which would not have been the case if I would have gone somewhere further away.”

Sheridan’s positive personality has definitely left a visible mark on the team.

“My favorite part of having Megan on the team is just how silly and goofy she is just because you can always count on her to make you laugh or make certain situations a little more lighthearted,” Milstead said. “I think that has really helped the team; she is just a fun person to have around.”

The impact of Sheridan is consistently seen both on and off the court, with a bright, Butler volleyball, future ahead of her.