Shirley Bacon-Malek

Volleyball
Outside Hitter
(1984-88)

Inducted 1997

Few volleyball players dominated the sport of volleyball in the same manner as Shirley Bacon. The outside hitter not only earned respect within the region but also on a national level. She became only the third New Haven volleyball to receive All-America honors when she was selected to the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s second team following the 1988 season. She helped the team to three post-season playoff berths including a national quarterfinal appearance in 1988, the school’s first NCAA Elite Eight appearance. That season, the team posted 44 wins, which was just three shy of the single-season record. Bacon was an All-New England Collegiate Conference selection and was named NECC Most Valuable Player in 1985. She finished her career record ranked among the school’s all-time leaders in kills (1,195), service aces (196), digs (551), block solos (81), block assists (160), and total blocks (241). At the time of her induction, Bacon held the school record for kills in a season with 662 set in 1988.