McCook Community College sophomore McKenna Crews (Loveland, Colo.) signed her letter of intent Tuesday to continue her volleyball career with NCAA Division II Minnesota State University, Moorhead, Minn.
"Even though they are a big program, I was impressed with how much they care about their players, from their coaches and players to their athletic staff, and it's a really competitive conference," said Crews of the North Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
The sophomore libero/defensive specialist was also looking for a volleyball program that had the right background for her to continue pursuing a veterinary science degree.
"It was a really good fit overall," she said –despite a whirlwind selection process. Her long-time love of animals and science led her six days earlier to present her scientific research into cannibalism rates for isopods at MCC's public science symposium. After her presentation last Thursday, she left immediately for her MSUM visit, returned home Sunday and began final exams Monday.
At Tuesday's signing, she said that in speaking with the science faculty at Minnesota-Moorhead, they are interested in her continuing her isopod research (roly polies) that she started at MCC in hopes of getting it published.
On the volleyball court this fall, Crews led MCC with 403 digs, averaging 3.35 per set. She also added 39 service aces. She recorded 18 matches of double-digit digs and topped 20 four times with her career best 27 coming Aug. 27 on the road at Kansas Wesleyan.
For her career she played in 61 matches and had 669 digs, 119 assists and 67 service aces. Last month, she was named second team all-Region IX south.
Academically, she was named to the Dean's list in the fall of 2021 and again in the spring of 2022. She was selected to the NJCAA third-team all-academic team for student-athletes with grade-point averages between 3.60 and 3.79.
"McKenna has been one of those players who just comes in, gets to work and she's all business," said MCC Coach Hayley Kobza. "No drama and she just came in and did exactly what she needed to do."
Crews said that coming to MCC was exciting for her because she felt like she was playing for a second home town – since she has close family ties to the Culbertson and McCook communities going back several generations.
"I'm sad to leave but I know I'll be back," she said, thankful for the chance she and her teammates have to form such close bonds with each other and the people in the community,
She knows she'll miss her coffee dates in Coach Kobza's office and miss hanging out with teammates whether it's "fun, serious, sad or happy."
"McKenna has a good presence on the court, and will continue to be a good teammate and a good leader," Kobza said.
Crews is the third MCC volleyball player who signed letters of intent in the past week, joining A'Dasia Porter and Makayla Brown. All three earned credits to move on to their new school in January and take part in their new teams' spring workouts and activities.
Kobza said players moving on the four-year schools are one of the ways she likes to measure program success.
"Wins are great and making it deep into post-season is great, but at the end of the day, my biggest things is to get my players to the next level, so with these three players in the last week being able to move on is a big success for us and our program."
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