His decision to leave the volleyball team was difficult. The urge to play basketball was pulling him one direction and the camaraderie of the volleyball team pulling him in the other.

“The guys [on the volleyball team] were cool, and they’re becoming a force to be reckoned with,” McKiernan said. “That made it even harder.”

In just a few months McKiernan had made a tremendous impact on the volleyball team. His ability and athleticism caused his teammates to take notice.

“He’s just an incredible athlete,” senior setter Mike Bookman said. “He would be an incredible addition to the volleyball team.”

His departure was a great disappointment to a team whose prospects were high for the upcoming season. Yet, his teammates understood that they needed to respect whatever path he chose to take and were confident in their chances even if he decided to leave the team. Without McKiernan, the Crimson opened its season 3-2.

“Everyone was fully supportive of his decision either way,” Bookman said. “There was never a time when we thought Seamus was making a poor decision.”

Though he chose not to play volleyball this season, he has not given up on the idea all together. Once the basketball chapter of his athletic career is complete, he will be enthusiastic to rejoin his former team.

“By not playing volleyball this year, I don’t mean never to continue with it,” McKiernan said. “I want to go for basketball, and if that doesn’t work, I’d definitely want to try to play again, if they’d let me.”