SLIPPERY ROCK — There is no secret when it comes to the Slippery Rock High volleyball team.

Carly Shearer is the focal point of the offense.

Still, with teams plotting to contain the senior outside hitter, Shearer has been dominant for the Rockets this season.

She’s averaging nearly 15 kills per match. She’s also been effective on the serve and on defense for Slippery Rock (4-5), which is trying to scratch its way into the playoffs with a new coach and a slew of new players.

Shearer has been the one constant.

“Carly is definitely our biggest power hitter on the team,” said first-year coach Laura Franklin. “We depend a lot on her. She’s an all-around great player.”

Slippery Rock has had to overcome a lot since it wrapped up a 12-0 regular season in 2012 before being ousted in the District 10 playoff tournament.

Greg Dugan stepped down after 12 years as the Rockets’ coach. “He was the only coach I ever knew,” Shearer said.

Then, shortly before this season was to begin, senior hitter Heather Urbaniak tore her ACL and was lost for the season.

Slippery Rock already had to replace six players lost to graduation, headlined by Laura Hilliard, Taylor Stamm, Jordan McCauley and Megan Little.

Urbaniak’s injury opened up a huge void on the court.

“It was a really, really hard loss for all of us,” Shearer said. “We were really excited about our senior seasons and then one of the best players gets taken out for the season.

“I’ve played with her since we were little,” Shearer added. “It’s really weird being out on the court and not seeing her out there with me.”

Knowing Urbaniak wasn’t going to be there to take some of the pressure off of her, Shearer prepared herself for all the attention she figured to get from the opposition.

While that scrutiny has been as profound as she expected, Shearer has been pleased by how she has been able to overcome it.

“I think the other team knows we’re not the strongest offensive team,” Shearer said. “It makes it a little harder on me, but I knew I had to step up. I am pretty pleased with how I’ve been playing, but I always feel like I can do better. There’s always things you can improve to get better.”

Shearer, who is a team captain along with Urbaniak, is also proud of the way the team has rallied around their first-year coach.

“This year it’s been kind of shocking to even lose a game,” Shearer said. “We haven’t lost a lot the last few years. We’re trying as hard as we can. It’s definitely been an adjustment with a new coach, especially as a senior. But we like her a lot.”

Shearer has helped the team in other areas.

She had a 14-dig match against Sharon and had eight aces against Franklin.

“You never know what you’re going to have to do,” Shearer said. “I’ll do whatever I can to get a point.”

Franklin is hopeful her team can find a way into the playoffs.

“We haven’t played to our potential yet,” Franklin said. “We dug ourselves in a hole, but the potential is there for us to have an opportunity to make it. Carly has really carried us this season.”

Shearer was hooked on volleyball while watching her sister, Ashlee, play more than 10 years ago.

“I always knew I had big footsteps to fill,” Carly Shearer said. “She also played outside hitter, and I always heard amazing stories of when she played. She was always around, playing with me and now coming to my games. She always pushed me.”

Shearer hopes to play in college. Where, she does not know.

“I have to figure out what I want to do first,” she said, laughing. “I would definitely love to play, though.”