Lion Career
2009 (Freshman): Saw action in three matches, including against Harvard (2/13), NJIT (2/28) and Mount Olive (3/28) ... posted one block against Harvard (2/13) ... recorded one kill against NJIT (2/28).
High School
Two-year letterwinner at Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio ... two-time captain for the Crusaders ... finished with a 86-18 four-year scholastic record ... 2008 squad was ranked third in the state of Ohio and finished with an 18-6 record ... named a First Team Ohio All-Star in 2008, also earning all-tournament honors at the Chicago Tiger Classic Invitational as well as first team all-state honors ... named to the Greater Cincinnati League All-Start Division I team ... Volleyball Magazine 'Fab 50' ... earned Regional All-Star honors ... set the single-match kills record in 2008, also claiming the single-match kill efficiency record and three times setting the single-match record for block assists ... finished fourth in school history with 88 career block assists ... also ended senior season with 236 kills ... squad claimed the 2007 Ohio state championship title ... earned the SW Ohio Regional Championship and also claimed the district and Greater Cincinnati League championships ... member of the Cincinnati Attack volleyball club ... member of the National Society of High School Scholars, first and second honor roll, Honors Encounter and recipient of the Outstanding Community Service Award in 2006-2007 for completing more than 100 hours of community service.
Personal
Born Mark Steven Shipp on June 14, 1990 in Cincinnati, Ohio ... parents are Steve Shipp and Karen Ruhe-Shipp ... has one sister, Caitlin (15) ... plans on majoring in business and accounting ... names golf and fishing as hobbies, personal finance as favorite school subject, the Cincinnati Bengals as favorite professional sports team, Carson Palmer as favorite athlete, 'The Office' as favorite television show, 'Never Back Down' as favorite movie, 'The Frontiersman' as favorite book, Adam Sandler as favorite actor, Jessica Simpson as favorite actress and Hawaii as favorite place to visit ... nickname is Geoff.
Why Penn State?
'I chose Penn State because it is an excellent academic school with a great volleyball program.'
Quoting Coach Pavlik
'Mark has shown some improvement from last year offensively. He[apos]s starting to get more explosive offensively. The experience he gained last year is starting to show with his blocking. His serving is getting picked up. Mark could fill a very steady middle role for us.'