haleyspotlight

Volleyball MSU Athletics Media Relations

Student-Athlete Spotlight: Haley McClure, Volleyball

No. 3 Haley McClure
Senior Outside Hitter, Volleyball
Ashburn, Va.
Major: Business Administration
 
Morgan State senior Haley McClure thus far is having her best season as a member of the Lady Bears' volleyball team. The 5-foot-8 outside hitter currently leads the team in total digs 93 (2.16 per set), ranks second on the team in kills with 92 (2.14 per set), is second in service aces with five and has added seven blocks.
 
A native of Ashburn, Va., McClure has earned back-to-back all-tournament team honors this season at both the Maddie Bingaman Tournament (9/9-10) and VCU Invitational (9/16-17), respectively. Last week McClure set career highs in both kills (17) and digs (15) against Middle Tennessee State (9/16) in the opener of the VCU Invitational.
 
McClure and the Lady Bears begin Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play at home this Friday night when they host the Lady Pirates of Hampton. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Hill Field House. Morgan State will conclude the weekend with another MEAC home contest on Sunday at 3 p.m. against Norfolk State.

Student Life:
What is the best time of the year on campus? "I'd definitely say fall because volleyball and football are in season. Then you also see the basketball teams practicing, and the atmosphere is just great."
Why did you choose MSU? "Well I'm from a predominantly white area, so an HBCU was never brought up to me. So when I was playing volleyball and getting recruited, this was the only HBCU I've heard of and I didn't know it was so close to my house. But I loved the vibe here in comparison to the other colleges I visited."
What is your major and why? "Business Administration. Eventually I want to start my own business and I like the whole idea of being able to run things and take care of the finances. I want to go to law school because I'm interested in law, and someday start my own law firm as well."
Favorite Professor and why? "Professor Sawyer. Nobody pushed me harder than her. I think she really inspired the person I am off the court.  She definitely kept me in line and she did not play."
If you had to give an incoming student advice, what would it be? "To definitely stay focused and try to keep as much control in their four years. You know it's so much freedom and being away from home, a lot of people never have been on their own and had responsibilities. So I'd just say do the best they can."
Describe your first day as a student at Morgan State. "Lost. It was crazy. I woke up and thought my hair would be all cute that day but I had practice in the morning so that didn't work out. Then I was constantly lost all day. Didn't know where I was. Definitely a long day. I looked like a freshman."
What do you like most about Morgan? "Seeing people that look like me. Same skin color. Where I went to school, I was one of the few or only black kids. So seeing people of darker skin color at a higher level of education and wanting more for themselves is definitely what I like most about MSU."

Pop Culture:
What social media do you prefer the most? "The longer I've had my social media, I'd say Facebook or Instagram. I get on Facebook to stay connected with friends I used to go to school with, and that's also where most of my family are. I get on Instagram just to see small pictures of people or a small video."
Would you rather read the book or watch the movie? "Read the book. I like reading. I just think once you read the book you understand why. I think the details are different."
What song can you not help but sing-a-long to? "Any Beyonce' song"
Who is your celebrity crush? "Beyonce"
Favorite TV Show? "How to get away with Murder"
Favorite Movie? "Friday"
Favorite musician/musical group? "Beyonce'"
My favorite cartoon or children's show as a child was… "Tom & Jerry"
If you could switch lives with any celebrity, who would it be and why? "Beyonce. Just her level of confidence and big personality... I'm more of a quiet person so that would be something good to experience."
Favorite music genre? "Rap and R&B"

Travel:
Most interesting place you've visited? "This summer I did an internship and studied abroad in Europe. Everything about it was so different. I really enjoyed being there."
Place you would like to visit? "Australia"

Food:
Favorite home cooked meal? "Anything with my mom's mac & cheese, and her enchiladas."
Favorite snack? "Popcorn"
Most underrated food that you like? "Broccoli. I love broccoli."
I hated it when my mom made me eat? "Beets"
Favorite breakfast cereal as a kid? "Captain Crunch Berries"
 
Sports:
When is your favorite time of your sports season? "Right around October. The beginning of October and through November. The competition starts getting a lot better around that time."
Who is your favorite athlete? "Serena Williams"
Who do you model your game after? "Destiny Hooker and Megan Hodge. I just love how aggressive they are and just the way that they move on the court. I like their attitudes and I'm all about attitude."
Which team do you most look forward to competing against? "Howard"
Do you have any pre-game/match superstitions or rituals? "Not really. At a certain time, I'll just turn my phone off so that I'm not scrolling on Instagram or answering text. I just get in complete game mode."
What is your favorite part about your sport? "I like the way the points go. We have to start and stop our game. I like how you incorporate everyone on the team in each play."
If you could play another position, what would it be and why? "Setter, because I could never set and I just think it's so cool how they basically run every play. Everybody goes off of what the setter wants to do."
What is your favorite athletic memory? "Winning State Championships in High School."
Favorite pro sports team? "Kansas City Chiefs"
What is your top skill? "Serving"
When did you start playing football? "When I was in the 7th grade."

Miscellaneous:
Would you rather be rich or famous and why? "I'd rather be rich. I think being famous is a little overrated."
If you could do one thing over, what would it be? "I could always be a lot better academically."
When you are not at practice, what could someone find you doing? "Hanging with my teammates. They're always at my house, even when I'm napping."
If could play another sport, what would it be? "I would play basketball if I had the endurance for that, but I hate running."
What do you look forward to doing during the summer? "Traveling. As much as I do like being here at Morgan and around my teammates, I do love being with my family and going to new places. Usually when I'm at school it's eat, breathe, and sleep volleyball. So it's nice to have a break."
If you were a superhero, what would be your superpower? "My superpower would be to mind read."
Do you have an interesting nickname? "Rosco. My family has been calling me that since I was little and to this day, I still don't know why."
What is one thing people don't know about you? "I play music instruments. Piano and saxophone."
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? "To go out every day and play or work and learn with confidence like you have nothing to lose."
If you could witness any event of the past, present, or future, what would it be? "The future, people living on another planet. In the past, maybe going to an Aaliyah concert or seeing the first time Destiny's Child performed."
If I could change one thing about myself, it would be…  "To not be so shy when I first meet people. Because once I actually get to know them, I won't be quiet. So I definitely think being more upfront when I meet people."
What are your goals in life? "To get to a place where I can make my parents proud and be able to support them. I want to give back and start my own nonprofit organizations. I also want to be able to travel when I want."
Person you admire the most? "My dad. I like his work ethic."
Coolest thing you did this summer? "Study abroad"
Most prized possession? "My necklace that I got from Mexico. It was the best family trip I've taken and my necklace is what reminds me of it."
If you could have dinner with three people, dead or alive, who would they be? "Beyonce, Oprah, and one of the Obamas."
Dream event? "I want to be VIP at a Beyonce' concert."
Your hometown is known for? "We aren't known for anything."
Cats or dogs? "Dogs"
Early bird or night owl? "Night Owl"
Funniest person on the team? Victoria




 
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Players Mentioned

Haley McClure

#3 Haley McClure

OH
5' 8"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Haley McClure

#3 Haley McClure

5' 8"
Senior
OH