Bronco Spotlight: Cate Shanahan's Rise From Redshirt to Recognition

Cate Shanahan remembers exactly how it felt to be the last one in the gym. It was winter, long after practice had ended, and she was still chasing the rhythm of the collegiate game — the speed, the timing, the confidence. Years later, that memory sits beside a new reality: a veteran leader on a Santa Clara team with championship ambitions, one that she believes is built to win right now.

“We have had the opportunity to start preseason a couple of weeks earlier this year, we've really just been getting after it,” Shanahan said, describing the early energy of the 2026 ramp-up. “Our practices have been really intense, super fun, a really high level, definitely the most competitive since I've been here.”

From redshirt to all-conference, from injuries to captaincy, Shanahan’s story is a testament to patience, grit, and the power of a team that feels more like family. And as the new season approaches, she’s certain of one thing: this group has everything it needs.

A TEAM THAT FEELS LIKE FAMILY

Culture isn’t a buzzword at Santa Clara — it’s the backbone. Shanahan credits the team’s closeness for much of its success and resilience, pointing to a culture that stretches far beyond the lines of the court.

“We're all super close and not just on the volleyball court, but outside of volleyball, we hang out all the time socially and also within grades,” she said. “Even after a double day… we're still hanging out. We really are a family and want to spend every second together and we really do.”

That bond, she believes, shows up when it matters most. “It's one thing for your teammate to get a game winning point and it's another for your best friend to get the game winning point,” Shanahan said. “We're all best friends, it just means more.”

FROM REDSHIRT TO ALL-CONFERENCE

Shanahan’s rise wasn’t linear. She arrived at Santa Clara with less experience than most of her peers, redshirted her first year, and then battled through injuries that threatened to stall her momentum. But the setbacks became fuel.

“I came into college really behind, definitely the worst on the team in my freshman year,” she said. Without regular access to club training during high school, she leaned into extra reps and mentorship. “That winter and spring, oh my gosh, I was doing extra reps every single day,” she said, crediting former teammate and fellow Canadian Kat Georgiadis for taking her under her wing.

When injuries struck — a torn ab and a broken finger — Shanahan found new ways to contribute. “There still were ways to contribute on the sidelines,” she said, whether that meant tactical observations or simple acts of support. “No one ever made me feel less a part of the team… I always felt just as connected as I do now.”

By last season, the work paid off. As a captain with limited in-game experience, she learned to lead while learning on the fly. “It definitely took a lot of lessons that I learned in games about how to best prepare myself… how to best recover,” she said. “Every game… I was just so excited.”

FINDING HER OWN PATH

Shanahan’s athletic roots run deep. Her father, Brendan Shanahan, is a Hockey Hall of Famer and her grandfather, Jim Hooley, starred in basketball at Boston College and was drafted by the Boston Celtics. But for Cate, those legacies have been guides, not shadows.

“I'd say my dad is such a huge inspiration to me,” she said, reflecting on his early leap to professional hockey. “Whenever I'm struggling with something… I have this Olympian, Hall of Famer athlete to call and be, what would you do? He gives absolutely amazing advice.”

Her mother, too, has been a constant. “My mom's always been my number one biggest fan… she was willing to do anything to make my dream come true of playing Division I volleyball,” Shanahan said. “I'd say between the three of them and many other people, they've helped so, so much.”

BELIEF IN WHAT'S NEXT

Ask Shanahan about 2026, and she doesn’t hesitate. “It might be cliche to say this is our year, but I truly believe it,” she said. “It's easy to preach something to the team that you truly believe in… what I really believe in is us and what we're going to do this season.”

With nearly the entire roster returning and a nonconference slate designed to test them early, the belief is rooted in preparation, not hope. “We're talking about having gold medal mindset going in every practice… I think it's so easy for us to be so excited about this season that we all truly believe is our year.”

For Cate Shanahan, that conviction — built through years of work, setbacks, and the steady pull of a team she calls family — is the clearest sign yet that she’s exactly where she’s supposed to be.