Morgan Irene Hentz (born July 27, 1998) is an American professional volleyball player who plays as a Libero (volleyball), libero for the United States women's national volleyball team.

Early life

Hentz was born to Mike and Kerin Hentz and grew up in Lakeside Park, Kentucky, Lakeside Park, Kentucky. She is the oldest of four siblings. Hentz began playing volleyball while in third grade. She gained an interest in volleyball because she wanted to play with friends and enjoyed traveling to tournaments. She attended Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Kentucky), Notre Dame Academy where she played volleyball and graduated in 2016. She finished high school as the 22nd ranked recruit in the nation and was named Kentucky's Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior. She committed to Stanford Cardinal women's volleyball, Stanford University to play collegiate volleyball.

Career

College

While at Stanford, Hentz was the starting libero all four years. She helped Stanford win NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament, NCAA national championships in 2016 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament, 2016, 2018 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament, 2018 and 2019 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament, 2019. She was named Pac-12 libero of the year in 2017, 2018, and 2019, and was a three-time AVCA First Team All-American. She finished her Stanford career with 2,310 digs, which ranks first all time in Stanford volleyball history and fourth all time in Pac-12 history. In addition to playing on Stanford's indoor team, she also played on Stanford's beach volleyball team in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Professional clubs

* Dresdner SC (volleyball), Dresdner SC (2020–2021) * Athletes Unlimited Volleyball, Athletes Unlimited (2022)

U.S. National Team

Hentz was invited to play on the U.S. national team in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic shut down training. In May 2022, Hentz made her national team playing debut when she was named to the 25-player roster for the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League, FIVB Volleyball Nations League tournament. In her first match, a win vs. the Dominican Republic, she had a team-leading 15 digs and 10 excellent receptions.

Awards and honors

Clubs

* 2020–2021 German Women's Volleyball League, German Bundesliga – Simple cup icon

Champion, with Dresdner SC. * 2020–2021 German Women's Volleyball Super Cup – Silver medal, with Dresdner SC. * 2021–22 German Cup – Simple cup icon

Bronze medal, with Dresdner SC. * 2022 Athletes Unlimited – Simple cup icon

Champion * 2022 Athletes Unlimited Volleyball season#Awards, 2022 Athletes Unlimited "Best Libero" * 2022 Athletes Unlimited Volleyball season#Awards, 2022 Athletes Unlimited "Defensive Player of the Year"

College

*2016 2016 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament, NCAA Division I National Champions *2018 2018 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament, NCAA Division I National Champions *2019 2019 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament, NCAA Division I National Champions *Pac-12 Libero of the Year (2017, 2018, 2019) *American Volleyball Coaches Association, AVCA First Team All-American (2017, 2018, 2019) *NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament#Most Outstanding Player, co-NCAA Most Outstanding Player (2018)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hentz, Morgan 1998 births Living people Sportspeople from Kentucky Liberos American women's volleyball players Stanford Cardinal women's volleyball players American expatriate sportspeople in Germany People from Campbell County, Kentucky 21st-century American women 21st-century American people