Though she is no longer a multi-sport athlete, Morgan Middleton still finds herself busier than ever. As the end of her freshmen year at North Dakota State University in Fargo draws near, she is working her way through finals week. Middleton is not only almost through her first year academically, but is also wrapping up her first season on the NDSU Women’s Volleyball team, and she loved every minute of it.
Middleton is a 2021 Clarion-Goldfield-Dows graduate and the daughter of Clint and Mandi Middleton of Clarion. When she headed to college over 400 miles away, that could have been a very scary change, but she says she is loving the Fargo life.
“Growing up in a very small town, I was looking for a college that wasn't in a huge city,” explained Middleton. “Even though Fargo is one of the biggest towns in North Dakota, it is very spread out and doesn't feel very big like Des Moines. The size is perfect for me. Fargo is an amazing town and I love the community and the support here.”
Not only does Middleton love the town, but she also enjoyed her first season as a Bison volleyball player. “My first year up here was amazing. I met so many people whether that be through athletics or just college in general. Volleyball was a lot of fun with always being on the road and playing bus games like ‘guess that animal.’”
Middleton, who plays outside hitter, says that as a freshman, she saw a little court time but not a ton. “I got in a few games but was not in a starting role,” she noted. “Coming in as a freshman my positions were already filled by upperclassmen.” Still, according to the NDSU athletics’ website, Middleton played in 13 matches and appeared in 15 sets, racking up a total of 10 kills. The Bison women ultimately went 12-18 on the season and placed 7th in the Summit League.
Middleton added though that not being on the court all the time did not dampen her role as a great teammate. “My role on the team this year was to be a constant energy source that was always cheering others on and getting people excited. That is one of my favorite roles to play since I am a very loud person already and love to cheer.”
No matter how much she played last season, Middleton still loved the atmosphere of the sport. “The best part of the season was getting ready in the locker room before games,” she stated. “Everyone is so excited to play and gets hyped before the games. Running out of the doors before entering is just thrilling. The atmosphere in the gym is electric.”
Above all, Middleton loved the team element and just hanging out with her fellow players. “My favorite part was my teammates,” she emphasized. “We are not just friends on the court or in the facilities. We are all so close to one another. We hang out all the time together outside of volleyball and our outside connection helps with our connections on the court.”
In addition to her on-court work, Middleton added that she feels good about her academics as well. “School went very well for me,” she said. “Being a business major, I had a lot of online classes and had more free time during the day which I was not used to.” <p>
In the end, Middleton is more than content with her current location. “NDSU has been a great experience for me. I was a little nervous to move so far away from home, but I do not regret a thing,” she stressed. “I love Clarion and always get excited to go back, to see family and eat at Sam's, but it was good for me to be in a new environment and grow on my own.”
As she looks down the road, Middleton is excited to stay on her current path. She will continue to play volleyball at NDSU in the future and appreciates where her journey has led her. “I am so glad that my path led me to NDSU,” Middleton said. “I have made lifelong friends and memories that I will never forget.”
