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By Lew Gilliland

The Selma Times-Journal

Keenan Lee McHugh admits she’s a bit of a talker. Well, maybe more than a bit.

“I’ve just always been really outgoing,” she said. “I’ve always found it easy in the stressful situations to take charge. I’ve always been like a social person. I just talk to everyone.”

Not being afraid to speak up served the junior well this fall as she played a key role for a Morgan Academy team that advanced to the AAA Elite Eight. For her efforts, she was selected The Selma Times-Journal’s volleyball player of the year.

McHugh, a 5-foot-9 middle hitter, closed with 204 kills, 57 blocks, 15 assists, 115 digs and 37 aces for a team that went 17-12, won an area title and was runner-up in the West Regionals.

“Keenan McHugh is a very vocal player,” Morgan head coach Glen Graham said. “She is very vocal leader. She loves the game of volleyball, and I expect even more out of her next year.

“Her main thing is control of her emotions during the game as far as (an area that needs) improvement. She can really put the ball down for us. She’s a really good defensive player.”

McHugh agreed that controlling her emotions can be a challenge. 

“I try to be perfect on every single play, and if I mess up, I get in my head about it,” she said. “(Coach Graham) kind of helped me realize it’s only one point in the game and we’ve got plenty more. It’s only one mistake.”

McHugh said offense is probably the best part of her game, but she works on everything. She said watching the team take shape was among the highlights of the 2021 season.

“I will probably will remember how we grew as a team this year and how we started building the foundation for next year,” she said

“We want to win state next year. We got us a new coach, and he really pushed technique on us this year. He got that in our heads, and it really helped us out a lot in the games.”

McHugh is one of the top female athletes in Dallas County. She made The Times-Journal All-Dallas County volleyball team last year.  She also plays on the Lady Senators  basketball team.

McHugh was also a member of the Lady Senators soccer team a year ago.