Merrick McHenry is a force to be reckoned with.
The UCLA volleyball star led the Bruins to their second straight NCAA title with a four-set victory over Long Beach State on Saturday. McHenry, a redshirt senior, had 10 kills and five blocks in UCLA's 25-21, 25-20, 27-29, 25-21 victory. To conclude the season, McHenry was named to the all-tournament team.
This honor is more than deserved for the Texas native who will go down as one of the greatest players in recent UCLA history. With McHenry on the court, the Bruins won back-to-back championships for the first time since 1996.
Why not take this to the next level?
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Although McHenry will be leaving campus this year, he will forever be a part of UCLA's record book. The middle blocker holds UCLA's solo block record and was the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Year.
It's clear that McHenry is obsessed with the moment. He posted a succinct message on his Instagram Story starting Monday and posted about the big win all weekend.
“It was fun,” he wrote.
We agree! McHenry was in the middle of a celebration and had the NCAA trophy in his hands shortly after the final set.
When the final whistle blew, all Bruins players rushed onto the court. Once again, McHenry was right in the center of the action!
Standing tall at 6 feet, 7 inches, McHenry had an impressive encore performance during his senior season. He did his best in his most important game and ended the season by winning the Offensive Player of the Week award.
The Bruins had a great April, winning 20 of 23 games since March 10th. However, they lost to rival Grand Canyon State University in the MPSF Tournament.
After defeating Fort Valley State University 3-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Bruins defeated the University of California, Irvine, 3-2 in the second round. They narrowly avoided elimination and faced LBSU. McHenry's teammate, Ethan Champlin, was named tournament MVP.
McHenry's next step after his college career could be to be a member of the U.S. men's indoor national team at the Paris Olympics. He was invited to the summer camp where the team is selected, and UCLA coach John Spewer is also in charge of the Olympic club. That could give McHenry an advantage, but considering he's one of the best players in the country, he probably doesn't need the advantage.
McHenry, who comes from a volleyball family, has been working towards this moment. His mother is a former middle blocker at Texas Tech University and a volleyball coach herself.
Although McHenry loved growing up in Texas, he was never comfortable with his gay identity. That was one of the main reasons he wanted to play at his UCLA. Los Angeles is a playground for young queer men looking to explore and find their way.
“[To] “Being gay and growing up in Texas…I felt out of place,” he said. Los Angeles Times last year. “To be close to people who still love me despite the different views in so many parts of the world…It was a journey, and it is still a journey, but I have never lived before. I feel like I'm the happiest person I've ever been.'' My current skin at 22 years old. I think it will only get better for me. ”
He was right about that! His junior and senior seasons totaled 461 kills and 218 blocks.
During that time, McHenry has been an inspiration to young LGBTQ+ athletes. Perhaps the most memorable moment of his career was when fans appreciated his work as a visible out-athlete during an away game at Virginia in the 2022-23 season.
“It's just me being me. I'm not trying to be extra or anything more,” McHenry said. “Ultimately, I just want to show people that you can be who you are and that you will be loved and appreciated.”
I can't wait to follow McHenry wherever his next destination is.