AVCA Regional Teams
BALTIMORE, Md., Dec. 10, 2019--The postseason awards continue to come sophomore volleyball player Zoe McBride's way. A little over two weeks after leading Morgan State to its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship appearance in 13 years and being named to the All-Tournament Team, McBride has now been named to the 2019 Division I American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) East Region Team, as announced on Tuesday.
McBride's selection makes her the first Lady Bear player to ever be named to an AVCA All-Region Team. She also garnered MEAC Co-Player of the Year honors this season, thus becoming the only player in Morgan State volleyball history to earn the league's Player of the Year honor.
"What an awesome award for Zoe McBride to be recognized as one of the top players in the East Region. Zoe has played an instrumental role in our program for the last two years. One of my philosophies is that we play as a team; we respect each other and celebrate each other. Zoe fits just that," Morgan State head coach Ramona Riley-Bozier said.
"Not only am I happy to be a part of this honor for Zoe, but I know I can say the same for the team. I have been coaching in this region for several years and it is hard for athletes to receive this award if you don't have a solid record. Therefore I am glad that we were able to finish the season strong, which allowed Zoe this opportunity. A great look for Morgan State volleyball and the University. #TheMorganWay."
McBride, who was also a First Team All-MEAC selection, was named MEAC Player or Co-Player of the Week a league-best seven times this season. She averaged a team-best 4.89 kills per set and a team-high attack percentage of .244, while finishing with 2.86 digs, 0.33 aces and 0.43 blocks per set.
A native of Ridgefield, Wash., McBride set the school's single-season kills record with a team-best 577 this season, passing former Lady Bear Esther Johnson (523 kills in 2004). She also passed Johnson (1,505 in 2004) on the single-season attempts chart with a team-leading 1,521. McBride would finish second on the team in both digs with a season-best 338 and blocks (51) and was tied for second in service aces with 39.
McBride led the MEAC in attacks per set (12.88), total kills (577), kills per set (4.89), points (646.0), points per set (5.47) and total attacks (1,521). She also ranked nationally in attacks per set (6th), kills per set (8th), points (8th), kills (9th) and points per set (9th).
The 6-foot outside hitter reached double figures in kills in 29 of the 31 matches played and had 13 matches of at least 20 kills, including a career-high 30 kills in the season-opening win over Seton Hall (8/30). She later posted a career-high 23 digs in a win over Binghamton (9/21).
In two seasons at Morgan State, McBride has recorded 906 kills and is 94 shy of becoming the 11th player in program history to reach the 1,000-kills plateau. She's tallied 593 digs and 31 assists. She currently ranks in the top-20 on Morgan State's all-time career charts in attack attempts (2,459/10th), service aces (93/12th) and blocks (93/tied 17th).
The Lady Bears finished the season 18-13 overall, 10-5 in league play to finish second in the MEAC Northern Division. The 18 wins were the most since 2006, when that team finished 23-9 overall and 9-1 in the MEAC and advanced to the championship match.
Like that 2006 squad, Morgan State would reach this year's title match, where it battled top-seed and northern division champion Howard to the very end, before falling to the five-time defending champions in five sets.