AC volleyball sophomore Jaron McAden earns second all-conference honor

For the second consecutive season, Amarillo College volleyball standout Jaron McAden is an all-conference honoree.

The outside hitter and middle blocker from Abilene is a Western Junior College Athletic Conference Honorable Mention selection, the league announced on Wednesday.

McAden led the Badgers in kills (225), aces (30), blocks (29), and hitting percentage (.231) during Amarillo College’s 2023 season.

“She deserves the recognition and was consistent all year,” Badger head coach Scott Sandel said. “Jaron was our leader offensively. Teams were camping on her all year and she was still able to get it done.”

In 2023, McAden finished 10 games with a double-digit kill total, highlighted by a season-high 19 kills against Western Texas College on Sept. 1.

While her kill total led the team by a significant margin, McAden was equally as efficient with her swings. McAden accumulated a hitting percentage of .300 or greater in 12 outings and accomplished the feat against four nationally ranked opponents.

The 5-foot-8 Abilene Wylie graduate tied the single-game ace record (6) against Clarendon College on Oct. 18 and set the single match solo block record 5 Oct. 7 against New Mexico Military Institute.

McAden ended her Badger volleyball career as a two-time WJCAC Honorable Mention selection.

McAden leaves the AC program as the all-time leader in blocks (50 solo blocks, 72 block assists) and hitting percentage (.202).

Her 432 career kills and 57 aces rank second in program history.