Morgan Ballard '16 Recruiting Profile
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2015 Upward Stars...
2014 AAU Nationals
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Big South 2013 Vi...
2013 Highlights
2013 Highlights -...
2012 HighlightsPersonal Statement
***2015 AAU National Champions*** ***2015 AAU All-American*** I have been playing volleyball since I was in the 7th grade and it is the only sport that I am involved with. I play throughout the entire year and volleyball is my greatest love and my goal is to continue to sharpen my skills and compete on a strong collegiate level in the future. I have completed my third season of Varsity as a Junior and I have always been a starter. I am on schedule to possibly graduate high school early in January 2016 and get started in college during the Spring semester. This will allow me a good transition from high school into college and prepare me for the first season of volleyball. On September 16, 2014, I achieved one of my personal high school goals and surpassed the 1000 career digs mark half way through my Junior season and I was very excited to reach that milestone! http://www.citizen-times.com/story/sports/high-school/2014/09/17/th-dig-black-hawks-ballard/15801495/ On September 26, 2014, the Asheville Citizen-Times named me the Western North Carolina Fall Sports Athlete of the Week. I achieved 1st Team All Conference at the end of my Sophomore and Junior seasons and was recently named the 3A/4A Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Varsity Team 2014 Most Valuable Player, and 2nd Team All Western North Carolina after my Junior season in 2014. As a Sophomore I also made Honorable Mention All Western North Carolina and was ranked #1 Sophomore Libero in the state of North Carolina in digs and digs per set and top 50 in the United States in 2013. At the end of my Freshman season I made Honorable Mention All Conference in the MAC 3A/4A Conference and also Honorable Mention All Western North Carolina. I have played club volleyball for 5 years and I am currently the Libero for the Upward Stars 17's Premier Team in Spartanburg, S.C. I am honored to be coached by Kevin Wentzel and directed by Coach Corey Helle. On June 20-23, 2015, we competed in Orlando, FL at AAU Nationals and we won the National Championship for the first time in the history of Upward Sports and I was very honored to be named AAU All American. I have been blessed to have wonderful coaches and trainers since I started playing including several Division I college coaches. I have also attended and trained at several high level college camps throughout the country. I am looking forward to working extremely hard and continue extensive training so that I can be the best that I can be in academics, on the volleyball court, and also in my everyday life. I hope that through my skills on the court and the person that I am, that I can make a difference and set great examples for others around me.
Please feel free to contact me directly by email at [email protected]
Athletics
High School Information
- Years w/ Varsity
- 3 years
- Varsity Starter
- 3 years
- 2014 Varsity Team
- Starter- Jersey: #21
Individual Awards
- 1st Team All-Conference, 2nd Team All-Region, 3A/4A Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Team Captain, Most Valuable Player 2014, Asheville Citizen-Times WNC Fall Sports Athlete of the Week, 1000th Career High School Dig 9/16/2014, Scholar Athlete of the Week
- 2013 Varsity Team
- Starter- Jersey: #21
Individual Awards
- 1st Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention All-Region, Ranked #1 in North Carolina among all Sophomore Libero's in Digs (426) and Digs/Set (5.3) at the end of 2013 Varsity season 10/19/13 (Maxpreps) Received Defensive Player of the Year Award. Honorable Mention All Western North Carolina 2013.
- 2012 Varsity Team
- Starter- Jersey: #21
Individual Awards
- Honorable Mention All-Conference, All Western North Carolina Honorable Mention 2012, Honorable Mention All-Region
Team Awards
- Conference 2nd Place
Club Information
- Seasons of Club Experience
- 5 seasons
- 2015 Upward Stars Upstate Volleyball (17's Premier)
- Libero Upward Stars 17's Premier-Kevin. 2015 AAU National Champions. Morgan Ballard named AAU All American.
- 2014 Biltmore Volleyball Academy (17 Elite)
- Starter at Libero on 17 Elite team
- 2013 Biltmore Volleyball Academy (17 Elite)
- Starter at Libero on 17 Elite Team
- 2012 Biltmore Volleyball Academy (14 National)
- Starter for 14 National Team as Setter and played all the way around. Coach:Fred Santos UNC Asheville
- 2011 Biltmore Volleyball Academy (13 Year Old Black Team)
- Starter and played all the way around on 13 Year Old Black Team. Top team in age group.
Coach References
- Club Director
- Corey Helle-Club Director Upward Stars Upstate Volleyball
- Club Coach
- Kevin Wentzel Upward Stars 17's Premier
- Club Coach
- Jen Peterson 17 Elite Coach Biltmore Volleyball Academy
- High School Head Coach
- Rebecca Pickens - Varsity Coach 2014-Present
- High School Head Coach
- Sheryl Heninger-Varsity Coach 2012/2013
- Position Coach
- Jen Peterson
Events
- Camp/Event
- 2015 AAU Nationals
- 6/20/15 to 6/23/15
- 2015 AAU National Champions!!! Upward Stars 17-Kevin. First National Championship for the Upward Sports Organization. Morgan Ballard named AAU All American. The team was 12-1 in the tournament and very strong all four days.
- Camp/Event
- Coastal Classic
- 6/06/15 to 6/07/15
- Upward Stars 17/Kevin won the Gold Championship and went undefeated the entire weekend.
- Camp/Event
- JVA World Challenge
- 4/10/15 to 4/12/15
- Team competed in the Open Division and placed 8th in Gold.
- Camp/Event
- Xcel/Upward Challenge
- 3/14/15 to 3/15/15
- Team placed 3rd in Gold in the tournament.
- Camp/Event
- SAVL Spring Madness (Power Division)
- 2/28/15 to 3/01/15
- Team placed 2nd in Gold in the 17's/18's combined power division out of 20 teams competing and had a 7-1 record.
- Camp/Event
- 2015 Beast of the Southeast
- 2/21/15 to 2/22/15
- 2015 Beast of the Southeast 17's Open Champions. Team was undefeated in the tournament.
- Camp/Event
- 2015 SAVL Southeast Alliance Volleyball Tournament
- 1/31/15 to 2/01/15
- 2015 Tournament Champions in Gold out of 28 teams competing in the 17's/18's combined division at the SAVL Southeast Alliance tournament.
- Camp/Event
- 2015 K-2 Elite Challenge
- 1/24/15 to 1/25/15
- 17's Open Division Champions. Placed 1st in Gold out of 20 teams competing in the Open Division. Team was undefeated in the tournament.
- Camp/Event
- 2015 Winter Bump
- 1/17/15 to 1/19/15
- Team placed 2nd in Gold out of 24 teams competing in the 18's Open Division. Finished 7-1 overall.
- Camp/Event
- 2015 SAVL Icebreaker (Power Division)
- 1/03/15 to 1/04/15
- Team placed 2nd in Gold and finished with 8-1 record out of 28 teams competing in the 17's/18's combined division.
- Camp/Event
- American University Libero Camp
- 8/02/14 to 8/03/14
- Extensive training in the Libero position. Intense training in defense, secondary setting, and serving.
- Camp/Event
- 2014 AAU Junior National Championship
- 6/21/14 to 6/24/14
- Team placed 15th out of 102 total competing in the Club Division.
- Camp/Event
- 2014 Jr. Hi Neighbor
- 4/12/14 to 4/13/14
- Team went 7-1 overall and placed 3rd in Gold out of 26 teams competing in the 17/18's combined division.
- Camp/Event
- Big South
- 4/04/14 to 4/06/14
- Team placed 1st in Bronze at the 2014 Big South National Qualifier.
- Camp/Event
- Bluegrass Tournament
- 3/08/14 to 3/09/14
- Team placed 3rd in the Silver bracket and 11th overall out of 36 teams.
- Camp/Event
- Southern Classic (Power)
- 3/01/14 to 3/02/14
- Competed in the Southern Classic 17's Power division and placed 2nd in the Gold bracket out of 23 teams.
- Camp/Event
- Presidents Day Capitol Hill Classic
- 2/15/14 to 2/17/14
- Competed and placed 2nd in the 17's Silver bracket. Placed 10th out of 80 total teams and had an overall record of 8-2.
- Camp/Event
- K2 Elite Invitational
- 1/25/14 to 1/26/14
- Competed and finished 7th in the Gold bracket of the 17's Open age division.
- Camp/Event
- Southern Dream Tournament
- 1/18/14 to 1/20/14
- Competed and won the Gold Championship in the 17's age division. 2014 tournament champions.
- Camp/Event
- AAU Junior National Championship Tournament
- 6/23/13 to 6/26/13
- Competed at AAU Junior Nationals Tournament in Orlando, FL on June 23-26, 2013. Started and played in every match at Libero.
- Camp/Event
- Big South National Qualifier Tournament 2013
- 3/29/13 to 3/31/13
- Biltmore Volleyball Academy 17's Elite starting Libero and competed in every match. Team placed 31st out of 80 teams in the USA Division and had a 7-3 overall record.
- Camp/Event
- Southern Classic Tournament
- 3/02/13 to 3/03/13
- Champions of Southern Classic Tournament in Gold Division held in Anderson, South Carolina. BVA 17 Elite placed 1st out of 20 Teams.
- Camp/Event
- Mizuno Challenge Tournament Columbia, S.C.
- 2/16/13 to 2/16/13
- Champions of Gold Division Mizuno Challenge Tournament held in Columbia, South Carolina. Team went undefeated.
- Camp/Event
- Club Volleyball Season
- 11/04/12 to 6/26/13
- 17 Elite Club Season. Started and played in every match as Libero.
- Camp/Event
- Club Volleyball Season
- 4/08/12 to 4/08/12
- Played and started on 14 National Team with Biltmore Volleyball Academy the entire season.
- Camp/Event
- Big South National Qualifier Tournament
- 3/30/12 to 4/01/12
- Competed on 14 National Level at Big South Tournament in Atlanta, Georgia
- Camp/Event
- Club Volleyball Season
- 4/09/11 to 4/09/11
- Played on Biltmore Volleyball Academy 13 yr. old Black Team (top team). Started and played all the way around the entire season.
Training
- Wake Forest Volleyball Camp 2010, 2011
- 2 years
- Trained at Wake Forest at VB camps in 2010 and 2011
- University of Tenn. Volleyball Camp 2012
- 1 year
- Varsity Team Volleyball Camp at University of Tenn. in 2012. Position training as Setter and DS.
- Weekly Setting Clinics Spring 2012
- 1 year
- Attended personal weekly Setting clinics during Spring 2012 with UNC-Asheville Coach Fred Santos.
- Weekly Defense Personal Training 2012-2014
- 3 years
- Personal Defensive Skills Training weekly in 2012, 2013, and 2014 with 17 Elite Club Coach Jen Peterson. Weekly personal defensive training with the #1 ranked 2013/14 college Libero in the United States, Rachel Wells, from UNC-Asheville. I also trained weekly in 2012 with UNC-Asheville Coach Frederico Santos in the Setter position.
- Ole Miss Elite Prospect ID Camp
- 1 year
- Attended Elite Prospect ID Camp at Ole Miss on May 18-19 2013. Extensive training at the Libero/DS position.
- Appalachian State University Libero Clinic 2013
- 1 year
- Attended and trained at Appalachian State University at the 2013 Libero Clinic June 27, 2013. Extensive training in the Libero position.
- Kentucky Libero Camp
- 1 year
- Trained at the University of Kentucky Libero camp on July 6, 2013. Extensive training at the Libero position.
- Cincinnati Elite Skills Training Camp
- 1 year
- Trained at the University of Cincinnati Elite Skills Training Camp on July 14, 2013. Extensive training in the Libero position.
- American University Libero Camp 2014
- 1 year
- Extensive training in the Libero position. Intense training in defense, secondary setting, and serving.
Statistics
| Statistic | 2014 Varsity Team | 2013 Varsity Team | 2012 Varsity Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attack Kills | 18 | 14 | 5 |
| Total Attempts | 85 | 46 | 13 |
| Kill Percentage | 21.2 | 30.4 | 38.5 |
| Kills/Game | 0.21 | .2 | .1 |
| Assists/Game | 0.13 | .2 | 2.1 |
| Solo Blocks | 0 | 4 | |
| Assisted Blocks | 0 | ||
| Block Errors | 0 | 0 | |
| Total Blocks | 0 | 4 | |
| Blocking Percentage | 0 | ||
| Blocks/Game | 0 | ||
| Digs | 546 | 426 | 306 |
| Digs/Game | 6.3 | 5.3 | 4.1 |
| Receiving Chances | 593 | 481 | 286 |
| Receiving Errors | 19 | 16 | |
| Receiving Percentage | 97 | 96.7 | |
| Aces | 28 | 13 | |
| Aces/Game | 0.33 | .2 | |
| Service Errors | 12 | 2 | 10 |
| Serving Percentage | 95.0 | 91.3 | 96.1 |
| Games Played | 86 | 81 | 74 |
| Matches Played | 24 | 24 | 23 |
| Attack Errors | 8 | 2 | |
| Assist Percentage | 86.7 |
Academics
Grades
Test Scores
Academic Accomplishments
Are you in honor classes?
Yes. English I Honors, Science Honors taken Freshman Year 2012-2013, Received Algebra I High School Credit in 8th Grade Year 2011/2012. Algebra II Honors, Biology Honors, Chemistry Honors, and English II Honors taken Sophomore Year 2013-2014.Are you in AP/IB classes?
Yes. English AP Junior year 2014/2015Registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center?
YesAwards and Activities
- AwardsScholar Athlete of the Week, Academic A/B Honor Roll,Vice President of Class 2010/2011, NCSA Athleadership Grant/Scholarship Award, AIG Student in Elementary and Middle School, All County Chorus
- ActivitiesMath tutor for other students, Singing, Reading, Hiking
Top NCSA Athletes at North Buncombe High School
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