Morgan excels at next level

As a freshman in college, most student-athletes often wonder if they will just be able to play. Some of those athletes may be able to contribute, even fewer will contribute on a high level and may even garner an award or two.

One student-athlete in particular has gone well beyond all of the above.

During her first season at Simpson College, Alayna Morgan not only proved she could play, but she became the best. The former Wasilla High School standout took the NAIA/NCCAA II collegiate volleyball world by storm, leading her squad to a third place finish in the national tournament and earning numerous personal accolades along the way.

Morgan was named a second team NCCAA II All-American at the setter position, although Simpson College head coach Justin Dee believes that Morgan deserved first team honors.

"Alayna is, in my opinion, the best setter in the NCCAA II as a freshman," Simpson College head coach Justin Dee said. "She adds so much strength in the setting position, which is the catalyst to our offense and team."

Morgan was also one of only two setters named to the all-tournament team for the national tourney.

That pair of honors is just the tip of the iceberg. The Morgan family might want to look into buying a larger mantle to display Alayna's many plaques and trophies.

Following the regular season, Morgan was named most valuable player for the NCCAA II West Region and MVP of the West Region tournament.

During the season, Morgan was named setter of the week for the entire NAIA Region II. She was also named setter of the week for the California Pacific Conference.

"I was very shocked to be MVP of my region," Morgan said. "It is not too often that a setter gets MVP over her hitters, and being a freshmen too, I didn't think it would be me at all. And to be a part of the All-American team, second team or not, I was excited to receive that honor."

Following her senior season at Wasilla High, where she helped lead the Warriors to the 4A state volleyball championship, Morgan began looking at Christian colleges in California to continue her academic and athletic careers.

"I have always wanted to go to a Christian college in California so I could take Bible courses and be near some of my family.," Morgan said. "That is how I started to narrow the college search down."

Morgan looked at several NCCAA I one schools in the California area such as Azusa, Masters, Biola and California Baptist.

"Most of their rosters didn't have any players that were shorter than 5'9" so I figured I may need to start looking elsewhere," Morgan said. "Being 5-3, I looked to find a coach who looked at more than just height."

Morgan's great aunt in Sacramento, CA told her about Simpson college and Morgan began doing research on the school.

"I looked it up on the internet and read the mission statement and loved it," Morgan said. "It was exactly how I wanted college to be. Emphasis on your relationship with God first, school second, and sports third. This is how the coach felt, too. He really wanted me to play for him and helped me research for different scholarships since Simpson does not give money for athletics and he was very helpful. I went and met him and looked at the campus and loved what I saw. The campus was beautiful, and the coach had the same philosophies as I did, not to mention it was the cheapest school I had looked at. Basically, everything fit. I knew that God wanted me at Simpson."

Height was the factor that may have caused some programs to pass on the 5-3 setter. Morgan soon proved them all wrong, by showing her ability to leap above the net, despite her lack of height.

Morgan finished third on the Simpson squad in blocks.

"Being vertically challenged has always been an issue for me and it does motivate me, when anyone thinks I can't do something because of my height," Morgan said. "I have always been one to prove myself. College coaches definitely passed me up because of my height, but I didn't care. I wouldn't want to play for a coach that didn't believe in me anyway."

"Alayna jumps very nicely," Dee said. "Her knowledge and timing of when and where to set the block has been so helpful on our team this year. She has studied and been taught very well in knowing how to block. Blocking isn't all about height, there is a lot of mental things that go into it also. Anyone can just stick their hands up, but Alayna puts them up in the right spot at the right time."

Morgan has proven that she has the athletic abilities to succeed on the collegiate level, but according to Dee it is the intangibles that have helped make Morgan and the Simpson volleyball squad a great success.

"I find myself amazed during some timeouts when Alayna takes over the timeout pumping the girls up," Morgan said. "She is the setter, which is a leadership position, but to see how much leadership potential she brings as just a freshman is amazing. She runs the offense. I just sit back and enjoy."

"I have worked hard to be the glue of every team that I have played on by being an encouraging leader and knowing the game. I believe that setters need to be confident in their teammates and be able to develop strategy," Morgan said.

"She is such an awesome woman of God," Dee said. "That is what attracted me the most to her, which is a large statement, because she is such an awesome setter."

"Alayna is the best recruit that this school has ever had in any sport," Dee said. "I love Alayna, with everything in my heart. She is an amazing young lady. She is awesome. No matter what she does in her life, she has the heart and the brains to succeed at anything she puts her mind to. Anyone who has a chance to sit down and get to know her, leaves that experience or meeting a better person. Her heart is huge for the Lord, and her love for what she does is unmatched. She is a blue chip athlete, who desperately wants to use her talents for the Lord."