Former Rockhurst men's volleyball standout Shay Spadaro has made program history, becoming the first player in Rockhurst men's volleyball history to sign a professional contract. Spadaro officially signed with Panvita Pomgrad in Slovenia on Wednesday (Oct. 14), marking a significant milestone for the young Hawks program under head coach Corey Marks.
Spadaro becomes the first professional player in the program's short history after an impressive two-year career with the Hawks, where he established himself as one of the Great Lakes Valley Conference's premier offensive players. The outside hitter capped off his collegiate career by earning First Team All-GLVC honors and a spot on the 2026 GLVC Men's Volleyball All-Tournament Team.
During his senior campaign, Spadaro led Rockhurst with 305 kills, averaging 3.11 per set, while also leading the GLVC with 48 service aces. He ranked third in the conference with 376.5 points (3.84 per set) and added a team-high 159 digs, showcasing his ability to contribute on both sides of the court.
Spadaro saved one of his strongest performances for the postseason, delivering a standout effort against Missouri S&T in the GLVC Tournament semifinals. He recorded match-highs of 19 kills, four service aces and 24 points while adding seven assists, two blocks and two digs. His performance earned him a place on the conference's All-Tournament Team.
As a junior in 2025, Spadaro appeared in 27 matches and 92 sets, finishing second on the team with 285 kills and 349.5 points. He also recorded 42 service aces, 141 digs and 35 blocks on his way to earning Second Team All-Independent Volleyball Association honors.
Before joining the Hawks, Spadaro spent two seasons at Lincoln Memorial University, where he built an impressive collegiate résumé. He earned AVCA All-American and AVCA Freshman of the Year recognition, along with IVA Freshman of the Year and IVA All-American honors. Spadaro also helped Lincoln Memorial capture back-to-back IVA championships.
Spadaro now takes his talents overseas to Panvita Pomgrad, a professional club based in Murska Sobota, Slovenia. The club competes in the country's top men's volleyball division and is coming off a third-place finish in the 2025–26 Slovenian championship.
His signing represents another step forward for Rockhurst men's volleyball under Marks, as the program continues to develop players capable of competing beyond the collegiate level. Spadaro will now have the opportunity to showcase his talents internationally while becoming the first Hawk from the program to take his career to the professional ranks.
