Morehead, Ky. – The honors keep coming for Morehead State Volleyball's
M.E. Hargan. The senior outside hitter from Elizabethtown, Ky., has been named Honorable Mention All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
"The honor is definitely something I've always wanted to achieve," said Hargan. "Hearing about and seeing these amazing players before me gave me motivation to show up and put in the work in a sport I love. I am so happy and thankful it finally came to be at the end of my collegiate career."
Hargan becomes the fifth player in program history to earn All-America recognition. She joins Katelyn Barbour (2008), Holly Evans (2010), Ellie Roberson (2012) and Olivia Lohmeier (2020).
"M.E. being named Honorable Mention All-American is a tremendous honor, and very well deserved," said Morehead State head coach
Kyrsten Becker-McBride. "I'm incredibly proud of her season, the way she represents Morehead State University, and the type of student and person she is on daily basis."
Hargan led the Ohio Valley Conference with 493 kills this season, averaging 4.61 kills per set ranking 16
th in the country in NCAA Division I. Her 569 points (5.32 points per set average) ranked 11
th in the country.
She was named the OVC Player of the Year, the sixth Eagle to earn the award, joining Dayle Hammontree (1988. 1989), Amy Almond (2001, 2002), Holly Evans (2010), Roberson (2012) and Lohmeier (2018, 2020).
"Hitting .275 while taking over 1,200 swings is hard to do, especially given that much of her role is managing out-of-system sets," said Becker-McBride. "She's made big strides in how she scores in those situations, and her growth over her four years at Morehead State has been rewarding to watch."
One of Morehead State's most prolific hitters, Hargan finished her career with 1,488 kills ranking third in program history for the modern era (2008-present when rally scoring changed to 25-point sets). Her 493 kills this season were the third-highest total in the modern era in the Eagle record book. Hargan finished with three seasons in the top 10 in program history for kills.
Her 2,575 total attacks' tally is the second-highest in the program's modern era. She also finished with 956 career digs, ranking ninth in the records. Her 98 career service aces and 36 career block solos both rank 10
th in the program, as does her 439 career sets played.
In November, the Ohio Valley Conference named Hargan an OVC Scholar-Athlete, the highest recognition awarded by the conference. She is just the fifth Morehead State volleyball player to have earned the award.
"To earn the OVC Scholar-Athlete award and an All-American honor in the same year speaks volumes about who M.E. is and how she truly excels in every area of her life," said Becker-McBride. "She is a great example of the true meaning of a student-athlete, since her on court accomplishments are accompanied by hundreds of hours of community service, outstanding grades in a challenging pre-vet degree, and great relationships with her teammates.
Hargan was an All-OVC First Team selection the last three seasons becoming the seventh player in program history to be named to the All-OVC First Team at least three years. This season, she was named OVC Player of the Week five times, including a run of three straight weeks (September 8 to September 22).
"M.E. would be the first person to say she can't accomplish any of this without her teammates, which is why it's fitting that this distinction also reflects as an honor for our whole program," said Becker-McBride. "Her contribution to this program and university should highlight what is possible at a university like Morehead State."
"This season had a lot of good moments on and off the court and I'm very grateful that I've gotten to share all of the experiences with amazing people," said Hargan. "They definitely make it that much sweeter."
