McConnell Earns Top G-MAC Academic Honor During Non-Traditional Student-Athlete Route

Ashland University senior Kenzie McConnell began her time as an Eagle with the women's basketball team.
 
McConnell will conclude her time at Ashland with the women's basketball team.
 
The four years in between, however, has been an intriguing journey.
 
McConnell has been a student-athlete in both women's basketball and volleyball since coming to campus, is in her second season as a manager for the women's hoops team, and, in November, earned the Great Midwest Athletic Conference's volleyball Elite 26 Award, for having the highest cumulative grade-point average (4.00 as an Exercise Science major) of anyone competing in the conference tournament.
 
"I'm just really thankful for the opportunity to be able to play two different sports," McConnell said. "It's kind of crazy how it all happened for me. The biggest thing that I'll be able to take with me is just the people and the relationships that I have made, whether that's on the basketball team or the volleyball team, teammates and coaches.
 
"That's something that I will look back and honestly be thankful for."
 
Coming from Circleville, Ohio, where she was a four-year letter winner in volleyball, basketball and softball, McConnell joined Ashland women's basketball as a freshman in 2021-22. She played in 15 games off the bench that season, but decided shortly thereafter that a change was needed.
 
"Basketball was always my main sport," McConnell said. "I was like, 'I'll go to Ashland, I'll play basketball for four years. Obviously, that didn't happen. Playing volleyball in college was never something that I considered.
 
"My heart just wasn't in it (playing basketball) anymore. Nothing bad to say about the program. They treated me so well. I honestly didn't think I was going to come back to Ashland. I thought I was going to transfer somewhere else and be closer to home. That, obviously, didn't happen, either."
 
Following her sophomore year at Ashland, she returned to the women's basketball program as a manager.

"At the end of my sophomore year, like a week or two before finals, I had really been missing the girls and missing that community," McConnell admitted. "I went to (head) coach (Kari) Pickens and had a heart-to-heart with her. We ultimately decided on a manager position being best for me, and I'm so glad I did that. It was great to be back with the girls."
 
Prior to the start of the 2024-25 school year, McConnell decided to give another sport a try at AU – volleyball. In her final season of eligibility this past fall, she played in three matches, starting two, and on Senior Day at home vs. Kentucky Wesleyan, McConnell had three kills and three block assists.
 
"I ended up meeting with (head) coach (Katie) Kuhn and (assistant) coach Hannah (Zuchowski). I realized it was something that I wanted to be a part of and have an influence on. My heart in going back was like, I just want to make a positive impact. If I don't ever get to see the court, that's fine. I just want to love the people in front of me. Just be a light to the team, be a light to the community.
 
"That (Senior Day) was a lot of fun. It was fun to put into play what I've been practicing, working hard for. The support of all my teammates, and seeing them being excited for me, was really cool."

Said Kuhn of McConnell, "Kenzie is a special young woman, and one that we are so fortunate to have had be a part of the volleyball program. While she only played for one season, she made a lasting impression that will positively impact AUVB for years to come. Kenzie is a quality student, volleyball player and, most importantly, human being."
 
The Elite 26 Award was something that wasn't on McConnell's radar.
 
"It's a position I never expected to be in, even being an athlete again," she said. "To get that award…the road has been all over the place, but it's cool to be recognized for something like that."
 
Now that volleyball season has come to an end, McConnell is back with the women's basketball team for a second season as a manager in 2024-25.
 
"Kenzie has embodied Ashland and the accent on the individual during her entire time at this university," said Pickens. "She has soared in her faith, pursued her passions, and invested in people.
 
"Though her journey at Ashland has been non-traditional, Kenzie has made a lasting impact on everyone she has interacted with. She took one year away from basketball, and when she decided to come back in a manager role, the team was overjoyed because they knew she would love each of them so well. I'm incredibly thankful for the ways Kenzie has poured into my program."
 
McConnell spoke of how her Christian faith has guided her throughout all of the changes at Ashland.
 
"The biggest thing that comes from my faith is all of these things are just things that I do. They're not who I am," McConnell said. "That's been such a grounding thing through the ups and the downs of being a student and being a manager and then being an athlete again.
 
"Just to have the foundation of I'm a child of God, and nothing can take that away. Just His consistency and steadfastness through everything, that's been huge for me."