Always on Her Toes, Giving Opponents Headaches
Aug 25, 2022 | Volleyball, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Mackenzie Morris thinks back. She believes that she picked up a volleyball for the first time when she was nine or 10 years old. At the time, she was playing soccer as well. A couple years later, she had to make an important decision: volleyball or soccer.
She chose volleyball.
"I'm really happy I chose volleyball," she says, chuckling.
One of three players to appear in all 85 sets during the 2020 season and a budding star while playing all 107 sets as the Kansas State libero last season, Morris has been a key cog for the women's volleyball team.
Morris, a junior, will put her ball-control skills on display again at the K-State Invitational. The Wildcats open their 2022 season against Sam Houston at 12 p.m. and against NC State at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, then meet Florida A&M at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Bramlage Coliseum.
All three matches will be televised on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and broadcast on KMAN radio.
"A libero does the dirty work that usually nobody wants to do," Morris says. "It's not the prettiest at all times, but to me, it's about effort and communication. Those are two things I can always control, and I want to give it my all every time I step onto the court."
The libero position was introduced in Division I volleyball in 2002. The libero is a back-row defensive specialist. The 5-foot-7 Morris roams the back row and is among the best passers on the team. She wears a different colored jersey. Her talents shine.
"I really love how you never know what's going to come next," she says. "You always have to be on your toes, be really scrappy, and make the other teams mad."
Morris was introduced to the libero position by a coach. She was 12 years old. She almost instantly fell in love.
"I remember I was hitting right side, and my coach said, 'Well, if you really want to keep playing, you should probably transition to libero now,'" Morris says. "I'm grateful for him saying that because here I am now.
"I don't think I would've made it very far as a hitter."
A native of Dallas, Texas, Morris starred at Ursuline Academy and was named 2018 6A District 2 Defensive Player of the Year in addition to first team all-state honors following her junior year.
However, it was the summer of her sophomore year that Morris discovered K-State. Head coach Suzie Fritz invited her to a summer camp in Manhattan. Later, Morris also discovered the College of Business on the K-State campus. Although Morris entertained a few other potential schools, K-State climbed to the top.
"I ultimately liked what K-State had to offer through a great business program," she says. "I really liked the team culture that Suzie had built and was continuing, and I just liked the history here."
Morris arrived at K-State during a precarious period in world history, as COVID impacted all parts of life, and so it took some time to fully gel with teammates amid COVID restrictions.
"It just made us grateful for all the time we have together now," she says.
Still, Morris flourished during her freshman season. She had a team-high 342 digs (4.02 per set) and 28 service aces. She led the team in digs in all 21 matches, reaching 20 or more digs six times. Her 4.02 digs per set remains the second-most by a freshman in program history.
"It was a big role to step into, but Suzie really helped me to gain confidence as a freshman and to know my worth," Morris says, "which really helped me to come out and play with confidence."
Last season, she was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week twice and earned Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. She also led K-State and ranked fifth in the Big 12 with 3.96 digs per set.
In the classroom, she majors in business and finance. On the court, she majors in giving opponents headaches. She's eager to deliver more headaches to opponents starting with Friday afternoon's season opener.
"I'm super excited to play in front of our home crowd at Bramlage," she says. "I always love playing at home. It's such a special atmosphere. I'm just really excited to showcase what we've been working on for a few weeks and go out and compete.
"Preseason is a grind every day. We're just excited for it all to come together."
K-State made it to the NCAA Tournament last season. Morris and the Wildcats intend to make a repeat appearance this season.
These first three matches for the 2022 season should provide an indicator of the team's strengths and where it can still grow.
There's plenty to prove.
"We're a scrappy and relentless team," Morris says. "We're not going to give up in the tough times and push through it. We're going to stay gritty."
Sounds a lot like a great libero.
Sounds a lot like Morris.
Mackenzie Morris thinks back. She believes that she picked up a volleyball for the first time when she was nine or 10 years old. At the time, she was playing soccer as well. A couple years later, she had to make an important decision: volleyball or soccer.
She chose volleyball.
"I'm really happy I chose volleyball," she says, chuckling.
One of three players to appear in all 85 sets during the 2020 season and a budding star while playing all 107 sets as the Kansas State libero last season, Morris has been a key cog for the women's volleyball team.
Morris, a junior, will put her ball-control skills on display again at the K-State Invitational. The Wildcats open their 2022 season against Sam Houston at 12 p.m. and against NC State at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, then meet Florida A&M at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Bramlage Coliseum.
All three matches will be televised on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and broadcast on KMAN radio.
"A libero does the dirty work that usually nobody wants to do," Morris says. "It's not the prettiest at all times, but to me, it's about effort and communication. Those are two things I can always control, and I want to give it my all every time I step onto the court."
The libero position was introduced in Division I volleyball in 2002. The libero is a back-row defensive specialist. The 5-foot-7 Morris roams the back row and is among the best passers on the team. She wears a different colored jersey. Her talents shine.
"I really love how you never know what's going to come next," she says. "You always have to be on your toes, be really scrappy, and make the other teams mad."
Morris was introduced to the libero position by a coach. She was 12 years old. She almost instantly fell in love.
"I remember I was hitting right side, and my coach said, 'Well, if you really want to keep playing, you should probably transition to libero now,'" Morris says. "I'm grateful for him saying that because here I am now.
"I don't think I would've made it very far as a hitter."
A native of Dallas, Texas, Morris starred at Ursuline Academy and was named 2018 6A District 2 Defensive Player of the Year in addition to first team all-state honors following her junior year.
However, it was the summer of her sophomore year that Morris discovered K-State. Head coach Suzie Fritz invited her to a summer camp in Manhattan. Later, Morris also discovered the College of Business on the K-State campus. Although Morris entertained a few other potential schools, K-State climbed to the top.
"I ultimately liked what K-State had to offer through a great business program," she says. "I really liked the team culture that Suzie had built and was continuing, and I just liked the history here."
Morris arrived at K-State during a precarious period in world history, as COVID impacted all parts of life, and so it took some time to fully gel with teammates amid COVID restrictions.
"It just made us grateful for all the time we have together now," she says.
Still, Morris flourished during her freshman season. She had a team-high 342 digs (4.02 per set) and 28 service aces. She led the team in digs in all 21 matches, reaching 20 or more digs six times. Her 4.02 digs per set remains the second-most by a freshman in program history.
"It was a big role to step into, but Suzie really helped me to gain confidence as a freshman and to know my worth," Morris says, "which really helped me to come out and play with confidence."
Last season, she was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week twice and earned Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. She also led K-State and ranked fifth in the Big 12 with 3.96 digs per set.
In the classroom, she majors in business and finance. On the court, she majors in giving opponents headaches. She's eager to deliver more headaches to opponents starting with Friday afternoon's season opener.
"I'm super excited to play in front of our home crowd at Bramlage," she says. "I always love playing at home. It's such a special atmosphere. I'm just really excited to showcase what we've been working on for a few weeks and go out and compete.
"Preseason is a grind every day. We're just excited for it all to come together."
K-State made it to the NCAA Tournament last season. Morris and the Wildcats intend to make a repeat appearance this season.
These first three matches for the 2022 season should provide an indicator of the team's strengths and where it can still grow.
There's plenty to prove.
"We're a scrappy and relentless team," Morris says. "We're not going to give up in the tough times and push through it. We're going to stay gritty."
Sounds a lot like a great libero.
Sounds a lot like Morris.
Players Mentioned
DS/L
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