news

Lehmann leads USA Deaf Volleyball

A coach's dream player is the way you can define Shana Lehmann, the libero, of USA Deaf Volleyball team. "She is a coachable player and listens to me 100%. Her passing is amazing and commits to defense first," said head coach Lynn Ray Boren." I have known her since 2003, when she participated in the Deaf Elite Volleyball Camp in Indianapolis, Ind. as a camper. She also worked at that camp in year of 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009. She played for me at Gallaudet from 2005 to 2009." Lehmann, a native of Frederick, Md., was raised by her father, an avid volleyball player. "You could say that I was first exposed to volleyball when I was a baby," said Lehmann, "I have been playing volleyball in a competition level since middle school." "Volleyball is such a beautiful sport-- I love how it requires everyone to work together on the court. To win, you need all six players on the court to contribute to the game. It is always a team effort. Unlike in basketball, you can never have a one-woman show," added Lehmann. As an alumnus of the Maryland School for the Deaf and Gallaudet University, Lehmann has played for Maryland School for the Deaf middle school, junior varsity, and varsity teams, and Gallaudet's volleyball team. She also played for USA Deaf Volleyball team at the 2009 Deaflympics in Taipei, Taiwan. USA earned silver. "The first time I met Shana was at Austin, Texas for the USA Deaf Volleyball tryouts. I noticed that she had a great composure, skilled as a team leader, and had a great talent, where she does not boast about," said Ann Whited, a former Gallaudet and current USA teammate. "When I entered Gallaudet in 2009, I discovered that she was far better than I imagined." "Her humbleness makes her a great player and she always does what the coach asks. She exceeds her performance above the coach's expectations," said Boren. "She likes to be modest about herself and around with her teammates." "I played with Shana when I was a freshman and she was a fifth year student at Gallaudet. We had the same position as a defense specialist and she taught me more than I thought she would. She was never afraid to correct me and say what's the best for me and the team," said Lauren Benedict, a former Gallaudet teammate of Lehmann’s. "She's the best teacher you could ask for." Lehmann's passion for volleyball still remains today. Currently, she is on a club team with other USA players that will compete in a tournament in Dallas, Texas and in the invitational 2011 Friendship Games at Washington., D.C. this summer. Lehmann will continue training as the team gathers for the upcoming tournaments and her ultimate goal is to win gold at the Summer Deaflympics in Athens, Greece in 2013. "I am definitely looking forward to the Friendship Games-- I think it is going to be a wonderful way for us to get together and play as a team. It will give us a chance to find our strengths and what we need to work on to prepare ourselves for the 2013 Deaflympics," said Lehmann. Off court, Lehmann enjoys going out for a run, scrapbooking, reading, and travelling. "When you travel, you get to learn something new everyday," said Lehmann, who has touched 20 countries in her lifetime. Lehmann, an elementary education major, graduated from Gallaudet in 2010 with plans of enrolling as a graduate student in deaf education at Gallaudet University in fall 2011. By being a student, she is enthusiastic to have opportunities to train with other players in D.C. in the fall. "I grab every chance I get to play," said Lehmann.            
Share this:
?>