Moneshia McKenney has been tabbed as the Panthers' new Head Indoor/Beach Volleyball Coach according to LaGrange College Director of Athletics and Recreation Terlynn Olds.
"It is a great joy and an honor to be selected as the new volleyball coach at LaGrange College," said McKenney. "The vision, direction and culture Athletic Director Terlynn Olds wants to accomplish was evident in the interviewing process, and I cannot be more thrilled to be a part of the future of LaGrange College."
McKenney previously was an assistant volleyball coach at NCAA Division I member Oral Roberts University. With the Golden Eagles, she served as the recruiting coordinator and oversaw the pin hitters, while coordinating all aspects of volleyball operations, scouting, training and more.
In March of 2018 McKenney was an assistant coach for the East Carolina University volleyball program before transitioning into the role of interim head coach on March 26, 2020. As the interim head coach, she improved semester grades for the team from a 2.5 GPA to 3.32.
McKenney has experience as a professional volleyball player in Sweden following a decorated collegiate career at Clemson University. She got her first taste of international volleyball in 2011 as a member of the USA Women's Junior National Team that placed fourth at the FIVB Women's Junior World Championship in Peru.
During the 2015-16 Swedish League season, she was named the top outside hitter and was the second-best hitter in the circuit. As a result, she was selected to the Swedish League All-Star Team.
As a student-athlete at Clemson, McKenney earned AVCA All-East Region and First-Team All-ACC honors as a senior and graduated as one of just seven players in school history to eclipse 1,000 career kills and digs. She is 8th on the school career list in attempts (3,891), 12th in kills (1,376) and 15th in digs (1,086) and put up 338 total blocks and 66 aces as well. In her final year, she achieved one of the most prolific offensive seasons in school history, finishing with an ACC-leading 549 kills, a 4.46 kills/set average, and 599.5 points scored. She also set an ACC record with 24 kills in a 3-set win against Notre Dame.
"I think that LaGrange is an incredible place that has a lot to offer both on and off the court," McKenney said. "My staff and I cannot wait to roll up our sleeves and get to work! Go Panthers!"
