Deja McClendon

Personal: McClendon is a member of Athletes Unlimited Volleyball's Player Executive Committee, showcasing her leadership within the sport. Beyond volleyball, she enjoys hobbies such as reading, traveling, taking photos and videos, and shopping. She has a cat named Kora, and she acknowledges her club coach, Melissa Stark Bean, as a person who has made a difference in her life. McClendon's interests outside of volleyball include playing tennis, and she is multilingual, speaking Polish in addition to English. Her jersey number, 18, holds special significance as a lucky number for her from her college days.

2023 Season: McClendon participated in the Athletes Unlimited Volleyball Exhibition Tour during the 2023 season.

2022 Season: During the second season of Athletes Unlimited, McClendon's participation spanned across 14 matches and 33 sets. She concluded the season with 1,379 leaderboard points, 38 kills, and 58 digs. A notable highlight was her season-high of 10 digs in the season finale against Team De La Cruz. She also made a significant impact with seven kills and 22 reception attempts in the same match. Throughout the season, she recorded seven or more kills three times, including her season-high of eight kills against Team Lowe on March 19, during the Week One finale. McClendon's leadership qualities shone through as she became the 12th athlete in Athletes Unlimited Volleyball history to captain a team. Notably, she led the Purple team during Week One and earned her first victory as a team captain in a match against Team Cruz, contributing seven kills and six digs. Her season commenced with an impactful performance, showcasing six kills and nine digs against Team De La Cruz on March 16.

2021 Season: McClendon's inaugural season in 2021 displayed her exceptional skills as she participated in 15 matches, encompassing 44 sets. Her impact on the leaderboard was evident, ranking sixth with an impressive 3,127 points. A standout performance was her second-highest single-match total of 435 leaderboard points against Team Hunter on March 22. Furthermore, her prowess as an outside hitter was evident as she tied for seventh in Athletes Unlimited with 118 kills. Her contributions were not limited to offense, as she also ranked 10th in the league with 128 digs. She achieved the remarkable feat of recording 10 or more kills in five matches, including her season-high of 17 kills during the Week Two opener against Team Lowe. Notably, she secured a double-double with 11 kills and a season-high of 14 digs against Team Nwanebu on March 14. McClendon concluded the season with back-to-back double-digit kill performances, securing 14 kills against Team De La Cruz on March 28 and 13 kills with eight digs against Team King.

Other Professional Experience: McClendon has gained valuable professional experience playing in various countries, including Brazil's Itambé Minas during the 2019-20 season, as well as in Italy, Poland, and Azerbaijan. Her international exposure has contributed to her growth as a volleyball player.

At Penn State: McClendon was a four-time AVCA All-America selection for the Nittany Lions. Her achievements included a First-Team notice as a sophomore, along with a pair of Second-Team commendations, and a Third-Team distinction during her senior season. She was consistently recognized as an AVCA All-Region selection throughout her four years. Her impact on Penn State's success was notable as she led the team to NCAA titles as a freshman and senior. In her freshman year, she earned recognition as the AVCA, Volleyball Magazine, and Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Notably, she was a four-time All-Big Ten First Team honoree. McClendon's exceptional career at Penn State is highlighted by her distinction as one of eight players in the university's history to achieve both 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs. Her name resonates in the Penn State record books as she stands sixth in Nittany Lions' history with 1,631 kills, along with 1,176 career digs. Additionally, her accomplishments place her fifth in school history with 4,081 career attack attempts. She remains among Penn State's all-time leaders with 1,872 career points and 494 career sets played. Her remarkable contributions led to her being named the 2013 Penn State Female Athlete of the Year.