Residing in the Olde Orchard Subdivision, Morgan McClellan, an 18 year old senior at Hurricane High School, is the daughter of Trent and Hope McClellan and the proud older sister to Sloane, a 10th grader at Hurricane High School who plays volleyball for both the school team and Vantage Volleyball Club, and Zane, a 6th grader at Hurricane Middle School whose hobbies include basketball and tennis. Athletics are a big part of life in their household, and volleyball has been at the heart of Morgan’s journey.

Morgan, a hitter for the Hurricane High School volleyball team, first fell in love with the sport while watching the Summer Olympics. “I remember watching the Olympics and just being drawn to volleyball,” Morgan shared. “I wanted to give it a try, and once I did, I was hooked.”

She attended her first volleyball camp in fifth grade and has continued playing ever since. Morgan played three years at Hurricane Middle School and four years at Hurricane High, in addition to competing in club volleyball for six years with Vantage Volleyball.

One of her biggest influences has been club director and coach Jenna Theden. “Jenna has such vast volleyball knowledge and really teaches the technical details of the game,” Morgan said. “She pushes players to be the best they can be and always puts the player and the team’s best interests first.”

Some of Morgan’s favorite memories have come from sharing the court with her sister. “Getting to play with Sloane in middle school and high school has meant so much to me,” Morgan shared with Stroll Hurricane. “I’m honored she followed in my footsteps, and it’s been special experiencing that together.”

Through the years, Morgan has collected several medals with her Vantage club teams and competed in high-level tournaments, including the Midwest Qualifier in Indianapolis. “Playing at MEQ was incredible,” she said. “There are hundreds of courts with matches going on at the same time. It’s an experience I’ll never forget.”

Volleyball has shaped Morgan in more ways than wins and awards. “It has taught me so much about teamwork and chemistry,” she explained. “Success really comes down to working together. It has also taught me self-discipline, resilience, leadership, and how to overcome adversity.”

She especially enjoys traveling to new places through club volleyball and meeting players from across the country, while also taking pride in representing Hurricane High School and her community.

After graduation, Morgan will attend West Virginia University, majoring in Public Health with plans to attend PA school and specialize in dermatology.

Her advice to younger players is simple. “Volleyball is a fun and fast-paced game, but it takes a lot of teamwork,” Morgan said. “It is a game of mistakes, so do not get discouraged while you are learning.”