Hall of Fame
Shannon Thompson is one of the most decorated women’s volleyball player in the history of Little East Conference (LEC) and UMass Boston women’s volleyball. Her arrival ushered in an era of unprecedented success for the Beacons as they captured each of their first four LEC regular season and tournament championships during her career.
Thompson was named the LEC Rookie of the Year and a First Team All-LEC selection as a freshman in 2009. She went on to be named First Team All-LEC in each of thew following three seasons to become the first player in Conference history to earn the honor four times, and was the first player in league history to be named LEC Offensive Player of the Year and the LEC Championship Tournament Most Outstanding Player three times after earning both honors from 2010-12.
In addition to her LEC accolades, Thompson was the program’s first-ever American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America recipient, earning Honorable Mention as a freshman in 2009 before being named First Team in 2010 and Third Team in 2011. The Outside hitter was named the 2009 AVCA New England Region Rookie of the Year and was named to the AVCA All-Region Team in each of her four seasons. Thompson was also named the New England Women's Volleyball Association (NEWVA) Player of the Year in 2010 and 2012, the NEWVA Rookie of the Year in 2009, and was named to the Association’s all-region team in each of her four seasons.
UMass Boston posted an overall record of 108-27 (80-percent) during Thompson’s career, including a record of 26-2 in LEC regular season matches and a perfect 8-0 mark in LEC tournament matches. In addition, the Beacons were 6-3 in NCAA tournament matches, reaching the regional final in three consecutive season from 2010-12 and capturing the program’s first-ever NCAA regional title in 2010 and its second in 2012.
Thompson is still UMass Boston’s career-leader in total points (2252) and kills (1,812). She ranks second in blocks (376), third in digs (1,210), kills per set (3.88) and points per set (4.82), and is fifth in attack percentage (.299), service aces (192) and sets played (467). Her name appears almost 50 times on the Beacons’ single-season record lists - she still sits atop the single-season leader list in kills (494 in 2010) and total points (615 in 2010).
Thompson earned her bachelor’s degree in exercise and health science from UMass Boston in 2013. She was inducted into the UMass Boston/Boston State College Hall of Fame in 2022.