McKenna Young

21 McKenna Young
McKenna Young
  • Height:
    5-4
  • Hometown:
    Murfreesboro, Tenn.
  • Year:
    Jr.
  • Previous School:
    Stewarts Creek HS
Bio

2023 (Sophomore): Young took part in all 20 matches of Tech’s inaugural beach campaign, finishing with team-best records of 10-10 overall and 6-4 in OVC play… ended the year 0-1 at No. 3, 9-9 at the No. 4 position, and 1-0 as the No. 5… teamed with Morgan Gish (6-7, 4-3), Bella Powell (2-1, 2-1 OVC), and Brooke Amann (2-2) during the year… competed for Tech in the No. 4 slot with Gish over the final 13 matches of the year, including all four match-ups in the OVC Tournament… made her collegiate debut in the No. 3 position with Amann against Spartanburg Methodist (Feb. 24)… picked up her first career win with Amann in the No. 4 spot with a 2-0 decision at Berry College (Feb. 25)… won the longest marathon set in program history with Gish at the No. 4 slot to help Tech capture its first-ever win in the OVC Tournament, defeating Lindenwood (Apr. 27) 30-28 in the first set before clinching a 2-0 victory with a 21-16 decision in set two.

High School: Young was a four-year letterwinner as a libero for head coach Mary Dayton at Stewarts Creek High School in Smyrna, Tenn.… named All-District Defensive MVP as a senior… collected All-Conference and All-Region accolades as a junior, leading her team to its first-ever Region Tournament appearance… earned All-Tournament Team honors twice… took home All-Region Honorable Mention honors in 2016… finished her career as a member of the 2,000-dig club, racking up 2,147 in four seasons… as a senior, tallied 477 digs and 57 service aces with a 91.2 serve percentage… produced a career-high 676 digs as a junior… ripped off 506 digs and 82 aces as a sophomore and 488 digs and 32 aces as a freshman… honored as Rutherford County Athlete of the Week as a senior.

Personal: Daughter of William and Kelly Young... born in Nashville, Tenn. on May 15, 2002… full name is McKenna Shea Young... mother, Kelly, played volleyball at Green Bay for one season… father, William, played baseball at Lipscomb for two seasons.

Academic: Majoring in psychology… named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll seven times and to the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll three times… received the OVC Academic Medal of Honor three times.

Honors & Awards:

  • 2023 President’s Award
News mentions
Tech Beach Volleyball wins OVC Team Academic Achievement Award
Tech Beach Volleyball wins OVC Team Academic Achievement Award

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – With the Ohio Valley Conference's announcement Tuesday of its 2023-24 Team Academic Achievement Awards, Tennessee Tech came away with one of the team honors as the Golden Eagle beach volleyball team was recognized for the highest percentage of its eligible student-athletes achieving a 3.25 grade point average or better. Beach volleyball had 10 players make the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll with Brooke Amann, Skylar Boom, Katie DiRaimondo, Madolyn Isringhausen, Emma Pabon, Bella Powell, Olivia Taylor, Elena Wallace, Jazmine Yamilkowski and McKenna Young all earning spots on the academic excellence list. DiRaimondo, Isringhausen, Taylor and Young also received the OVC Academic Medal of Honor with perfect 4.0 GPAs.

Lions end Golden Eagle run at OVC Championships in 3-2 thriller
Lions end Golden Eagle run at OVC Championships in 3-2 thriller

MOREHEAD, Ky. – The 2024 beach volleyball campaign officially came to a close in heart-wrenching fashion for Tennessee Tech Friday afternoon, falling to Lindenwood in an elimination dual at the Ohio Valley Conference Championships at Giovanni’s Breadstick Beach in Morehead, Ky.

Morehead tops Tech in opening match of OVC Beach Volleyball Championships
Morehead tops Tech in opening match of OVC Beach Volleyball Championships

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Yet another match-up between the Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team and Morehead State saw all five scoring duals reach a third set, as the No. 4 seeded Eagles topped the No. 5 Golden Eagles in the first tilt of the Ohio Valley Conference Championships Thursday morning at Giovanni’s Breadstick Beach in Morehead, Ky.

Golden Eagles embark to Morehead for 2024 OVC Beach Volleyball Tournament
Golden Eagles embark to Morehead for 2024 OVC Beach Volleyball Tournament

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team embarks on its second-ever appearance at the Ohio Valley Conference Championships, making the trip to Morehead, Ky. to compete in the league's annual postseason event starting Thursday morning at Giovanni's Breadstick Beach.

Tech earns split on final day of regular season and OVC play
Tech earns split on final day of regular season and OVC play

MARTIN, Tenn. – The 2024 regular season is officially in the books for the Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team, as the Golden Eagles earned a 1-1 split on the final day of action in Martin, Tenn. at the final Ohio Valley Conference weekend.

Tech falls in pair of 4-1 bouts on day one of final OVC weekend
Tech falls in pair of 4-1 bouts on day one of final OVC weekend

MARTIN, Tenn. – It was a tough day on the sand, albeit one with a few highlights, as the Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team fell in a pair of duals at the second Ohio Valley Conference weekend of action, competing at the Skyhawk Beach Volleyball Complex in Martin, Tenn.

Purple and gold earn Tuesday split with familiar foes in Clarksville
Purple and gold earn Tuesday split with familiar foes in Clarksville

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Even though Tuesday marked the first-ever meetings between Tennessee Tech and both Jacksonville State and Austin Peay in the sport of beach volleyball, there was still enough familiarity to go around as the Golden Eagles split the day of duals in Clarksville against the two former Ohio Valley Conference programs.

Golden Eagles split final day of first OVC Weekend
Golden Eagles split final day of first OVC Weekend

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team closed out the first weekend of Ohio Valley Conference play with a split performance at the UTC Sports Complex Saturday, earning a victory over Eastern Illinois before falling to host Chattanooga.

Tech upended in pair of duals on day one of first OVC weekend
Tech upended in pair of duals on day one of first OVC weekend

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – It was a tough first day of action for the Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team at the first Ohio Valley Conference weekend of the year, as the Golden Eagles fell in a pair of league tilts on Friday at the UTC Sports Complex.

First OVC weekend awaits Golden Eagles in Chattanooga
First OVC weekend awaits Golden Eagles in Chattanooga

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The first of two Ohio Valley Conference weekends is officially on tap for the Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team this weekend, as the Golden Eagles make the short drive south to Chattanooga for the league’s first action of the season.

Golden Eagles wrap up action at Carolina Challenge
Golden Eagles wrap up action at Carolina Challenge

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team wrapped up play at the Carolina Challenge Sunday afternoon, falling in a pair of tilts to North Florida and New Orleans while competing at Wheeler Beach.

Tech completes day one at Carolina Challenge
Tech completes day one at Carolina Challenge

COLUMBIA, S.C. – It was a day of learning for the Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team, as the Golden Eagles wrapped up the first day of action at the Carolina Challenge Friday afternoon, hosted by South Carolina at Wheeler Beach.

Carolina Challenge awaits Tech beach volleyball team
Carolina Challenge awaits Tech beach volleyball team

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Fresh off an impressive start to the 2024 campaign with a 3-1 mark at the Berry Kick-Off two weeks ago, the Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team will take on its stiffest test as a program this weekend, heading to Columbia, S.C. for the Carolina Challenge.

Tech opens 2024 beach season at Berry Kick-Off
Tech opens 2024 beach season at Berry Kick-Off

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Coming off a spectacular inaugural campaign in 2023, the Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team embarks on the 2024 opening weekend of competition, heading to Mount Berry, Ga. for the Berry Kick-Off running Friday, Feb. 23 through Saturday, Feb. 24.