Athlete Spotlight: James Wood High School volleyball player Morgan Biggs

James Wood High School 17-year-old senior

Sport: Volleyball. Position: Middle

Parents: Karen and Bryan Biggs.

Hometown: Pittstown, N.J., we moved here when I was about 5.

Most memorable moment in volleyball: My sophomore year when I was 16 playing on a 17U team and P.W. was my coach. We took home the gold and won the whole shebang at a tournament in Lancaster, Pa., called the Irish Rumble. That was the first time I had been on a team that had won a whole tournament. There were 60 teams there and we got our bid to nationals [in Orlando, Fla.] paid for because we won.

Most embarrassing moment in volleyball: One time my shoulder was injured and I had to serve it underhand and it landed on our 10-foot line. It was not even close to going over the net.

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: Serena Williams, because she’s the picture of a woman athlete and she’s so inspirational and dominant on the court; Coach [Karch] Kiraly from USA Volleyball, I feel like there’s so much I can learn from him, so much about the game and every aspect of it; Matthew McConaughey, he’s a fantastic actor and my mom is in love with him so she would probably be happy if she got invited, too.

If you could use a time machine, where/when would you go: I’d probably go back a couple of months before my great-grandmother [Pauline Hall] died. She was my only great-grandmother who was still alive. I remember we used to go to visit and she made us these huge afghan blankets that you could wrap yourself up in and it had her scent that I connected to her. I still have it today in my room.

If you could go on a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go: Greece, my parents and I have been planning a senior trip to fly over and tour Athens and hit all of the islands. It’s beautiful over there and the water is crystal clear.

Favorite teacher: Mr. [Jim] Lancaster, he was my 10th grade honors English teacher. I had him 11-th grade too, for peer tutoring. He was my mentor through that. He’s such a calm, cool and collected person to be around. I know I can go to him for any advice I need.

Favorite athlete: Serena Williams

Favorite team: New York Giants

Favorite TV show: “Criminal Minds”

Favorite song: “Warriors” by Imagine Dragon

Favorite food: Brownies

Plans after high school: I’m verbally committed to Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., to play volleyball. I hope to get accepted there and study molecular biology. In seventh grade … I remember doing a genetics unit and since then it’s sparked my interest. My sophomore year, I was able to do my science fair project with my biology teacher Mr. [Andrew] Huff through Shenandoah University. We got to sequence his family’s genes. We went back through his family tree and researched a trait that was passed down through his family.

— Compiled by Walt Moody