Marshall University Athletics
MCGILL: Herd volleyball duo headed to USA tryouts
2/24/2022 10:14:00 PM | Volleyball, Word on the Herd
DeBell, McElhaney will compete in Colorado Springs this weekend
By Chuck McGill
HerdZone.com
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Macy McElhaney remembers the day of her head coach, Ari Aganus, texted her and said she had a question. Aganus then asked the 6-foot-2 middle blocker from Beaver, Pennsylvania, if she wanted to complete for a spot on the national team.
McElhaney started to cry.
The Marshall volleyball player will join Herd teammate Ciara DeBell at the Women's National Team Open Program this Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This is part of the selection process for the U.S. Women's National Team, USA Volleyball's NCAA Elite Athlete List and the 2022 U.S. Women's Collegiate National Team.
DeBell, a 6-2 outside hitter from Ocala, Florida, also participate in the Open Program a year ago. Now, she'll have company the next three days.
"Even if I don't make the team – and I definitely believe I can make the team – it's going to be such a great experience to play with all of these amazing players and I'll be able to gain so much knowledge," McElhaney said.
Aganus agrees. DeBell had such a positive experience that she wanted more of her players to receive the opportunity to make the trip.
"I am so excited for Ciara and Macy to represent Marshall at the Women's National Team Open Program," Aganus said. "They both have worked so hard in their college careers to compete for a sport among the nation's best volleyball players. At the Open Program, Ciara and Macy will be given the opportunity to showcase their skills and train with the best athletes and coaches in the country."
DeBell, a first team all-conference selection who has exhausted her collegiate eligibility, will go for the second consecutive year.
"The last time I went the competition was so good and the level of play was so high that I really couldn't think about anything else," DeBell said. "It was just volleyball, volleyball, volleyball all three days. I really ate it up."
When DeBell started to consider who she wanted along for the ride in Colorado, McElhaney came to mind.
"You come back with a different mentality," DeBell said. "My mindset completely changed; the way I trained completely changed; the way I looked at my teammates changed. It was such a cool shift into the sport."
DeBell concluded her career second all-time in kills per set and total attacks behind only four-time All-American and Marshall Athletics Hall of Famer Kelly-Anne Billingy.
McElhaney played in 23 matches – with 21 starts – in 2021. She transferred to Marshall after a one-and-a-half year stint at WVU.
"Marshall was one of the first schools that I talked to," McElhaney said. "I immediately fell in love with the coaches and what they had going on here. I came on my visit and everyone was so nice and cool. My first day on campus was my 20th birthday and I have been in love with it ever since."
Now, McElhaney gets to add the Open Program experience to her resume, and the Marshall volleyball program gains more exposure as the duo heads to Colorado this weekend.
"Macy is a high-level athlete and she has a lot of potential," DeBell said. "This is going to be a huge growing experience for her."
Chuck McGill is the Assistant Athletic Director for Fan/Donor Engagement and Communications at Marshall University and a nine-time winner of the National Sports Media Association West Virginia Sportswriter of the Year award. In addition to HerdZone.com's Word on the Herd, McGill is the editor of Thundering Herd Illustrated, Marshall's official athletics publication. Follow him on Twitter (@chuckmcgill) and Instagram (wordontheherd).
