COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Dec 27, 2025) – USA Volleyball is deeply saddened by the passing of longtime volleyball leader Glen Lietzke, a respected and influential figure whose dedication to the sport touched athletes, families, and organizations nationwide.

A true champion and pioneer of the game, Lietzke’s service spanned decades and encompassed numerous initiatives to grow and strengthen the volleyball community. He was a cornerstone of the sport, the founder of Austin Juniors Volleyball, and an AVCA Hall of Fame inductee.

In 1998, he was inducted into the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame as a recipient of the USA Volleyball George J. Fisher Leadership Award. His impact was felt profoundly at the national level through his work with First Point Volleyball, now an arm of USA Volleyball, and his service on the USA Volleyball Foundation Board, where his vision helped expand opportunities for countless young athletes.

He was a longtime coach, including collegiate stints at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Southwest Missouri State University, and the University of Texas. He also coached many teams at Austin Juniors and coached with the U.S. junior and youth national teams.

“Glen Lietzke always amazed me with the depth of his innovation and the lasting influence he had on our sport, shared John Speraw, President and CEO of USA Volleyball. “But what impressed me most in recent years was his generosity and the quiet way he made an impact. I always knew I could call Glen for honest insight and thoughtful perspective. He worked behind the scenes, never seeking attention, always focused on making things better for others. That is what our sport has lost, a humble icon and we have lost a good friend.”

Lietzke was a tireless advocate for the growth of boys and men’s volleyball, investing resources and leadership to help programs thrive in regions where few opportunities previously existed. At the time of his passing, he was actively leading preparations for January’s Southwest Boys Classic, one of the premier events on the national calendar.

Beyond his professional achievements, Glen was a trusted friend to the First Point Volleyball and a visionary leader whose belief in what was possible strengthened the sport. His legacy is one of generational impact; a volleyball community made better, more inclusive, and more vibrant through his lifelong commitment.

USA Volleyball extends its heartfelt condolences to his wife, Kathy, his children, Nathan and Lauren, the Austin Juniors community, and the many athletes, coaches and colleagues inspired by his life and work.

Just a few days ago, coach Craig Skinner and the Kentucky Wildcats volleyball team got a huge lift by landing All-ACC outside hitter Morgan Gaerte from the transfer portal. However, they will also be losing Brooke Bultema. The sophomore middle blocker announced she was transferring, and very quickly found a home with the Louisville Cardinals.

Bultema didn’t see a lot of action down the stretch of the season, but she played well when she was on the court. In 57 sets played, she recorded 92 kills and 55 blocks. Her .264 hit percentage was top five on the team among regular players, and her 1.61 kills per set was fourth. She was second on the team, behind only Lizzie Carr, with .96 blocks per set.

The Kentucky Wildcats volleyball team had one of its most successful seasons ever in 2025, winning 27 straight games and getting to the national championship match. It didn’t end the way they would have hoped, but it was a terrific run that captured the hearts of Big Blue Nation.

Individually, Eva Hudson had a huge season that led to her being named the SEC Player of the Year. He recorded 546 kills to lead Kentucky, and was critical to their success. Her senior season was certainly a special one.

Hudson’s eligibility ended after the season, but she has quickly managed to land a professional deal, signing with LOVB Atlanta. League One Volleyball is set to begin its second season in January, and features six professional teams.

If you wanted a quiet week to process the end of the volleyball season, you picked the wrong sport.

Just days after Kentucky’s historic 27-match winning streak was snapped in a painful 3-0 National Championship loss to Texas A&M, the program was hit with the full “joy and anguish” of the Transfer Portal era.

Craig Skinner didn’t waste time sulking. He went out and landed one of the most dangerous attackers in the country. But in true portal fashion, the news came with a price tag attached. and this one is going to annoy the fanbase.

The Joy: Morgan Gaerte is a problem

First, the massive news. Kentucky announced the signing of Morgan Gaerte, a 6-foot-5 outside hitter from Notre Dame who joins the Wildcats with two years of eligibility remaining.

This isn’t a depth piece. This is a legitimate “terminator.”

Gaerte was a First Team All-ACC selection in 2025 and an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American. Her numbers at Notre Dame were video game stuff:

• 497 kills (School record for the rally-scoring era)
• 4.64 kills per set (Mammoth production)
• 22 straight matches with 10+ kills

Skinner needs firepower to replace what is leaving, and Gaerte is exactly that. She hails from Indiana (ranked the No. 5 player in the nation coming out of high school) and brings the kind of heavy arm that can take over a fifth set, or even prevent it from going that far.

The anguish: Brooke Bultema to the enemy Cards

Now for the part that requires a deep breath.

Shortly after the Gaerte announcement, sophomore middle blocker Brooke Bultema announced she was entering the portal. Transfers happen. Players want playing time. That is part of the game.

The problem? She is transferring to Louisville.

Bultema was efficient when she played (.264 hitting percentage, 0.96 blocks per set), even though her minutes dipped down the stretch. Losing a productive sophomore hurts; losing her to the Cardinals adds a layer of rivalry bitterness that won’t go away quietly.

“Leaving Kentucky was the hardest decision of my life,” Bultema said in her statement. “Not only because I was leaving a school I loved, but people that have forever changed my life for the better.”

Craig Skinner’s message: The fire is lit

Despite the whiplash, Craig Skinner sounded like a coach who is ready to run it back.

“Man. What a ride! This team rejuvenated my fire for coaching,” Skinner said, thanking the 38,000 fans who packed Memorial Coliseum this season. “Thank you, BBN, for being with us every step of the way.”

The 2025 season ended in heartbreak, and the offseason started with a rivalry trade-off. But adding a weapon like Gaerte proves one thing: Kentucky intends to be right back in the Final Four conversation next December.

Not many volleyball players in the North Bay have had a two-year run quite like Cardinal Newman’s Cienna Alvarez.

A transfer from Vintage High School two years ago, Alvarez made an immediate impact for the Cardinals in 2024, helping her team tally more than 20 wins for a second straight season.

Newman reached the semifinal round of the North Coast Section Division 2 playoffs that year and qualified for the Northern California regional tournament, where the Cardinals won their first-round match.

This fall, Alvarez was a focal point for the Cardinals in her senior campaign. She welcomed the pressure and ran with it, leading the way as Newman improved on last year’s finish.

For her success on one of the area’s top teams, Alvarez is more than deserving to be named The Press Democrat’s Volleyball Player of the Year.

This fall, Newman finished second in the North Bay League Oak division behind area powerhouse Windsor and third in the NCS Division 2 playoffs, again qualifying for the the state’s Northern California tourney.

Alvarez was at the center of it all, earning double-doubles in kills and digs almost every match and taking over when needed — like when she put up a season high of 29 kills in a 3-1 win over Salesian to send Newman to NorCals for a third straight year.

In the second round of the Division II bracket, 10th-seeded Newman had No. 2 St. Francis on the ropes, but the Cardinals ultimately fell short in a five-set thriller.

Still, Alvarez had another of her double-doubles with 27 kills and 14 digs to keep her team on the verge of an upset.

She ended the season with 466 kills, the fourth-highest total in the entire North Coast Section. She also earned 41 aces and 263 digs to cap her high school career.

App Family,
 
Happy Holidays! I hope you are enjoying quality time with family and friends this holiday season.  
 
We’re excited to have been invited to the JLab Birmingham Bowl. What a tremendous opportunity for our student-athletes and football staff to represent App State on a national stage against Sun Belt rival Georgia Southern!
 

Football Goes Bowling

When the bowl invitation call came, we enthusiastically accepted the opportunity to compete one more time. It is an honor in college football to participate in Bowl Season, and we are excited for our program and our Mountaineer seniors to have the opportunity to compete again this season.
 
We are also looking forward to a promising 2026 season. Earlier this month, Coach Loggains and his staff brought in the highest-rated signing class in App State Football and Sun Belt history. The upcoming January transfer portal is another opportunity to further bolster next year’s roster with future Mountaineers to represent the Black and Gold.
 

Positioning App State Football for Success

App State is recognized as a national brand in college athletics and a leader in alumni and fan support for our programs, specifically football.
 
The landscape of college athletics continues to evolve. App State is prepared and will aggressively be positioned for sustained success.
 
Our football program has historically been one of the most successful programs in the FBS. App State has participated in nine bowl games in the past 11 years and annually leads the Sun Belt Conference in attendance and football ticket revenue.
 
Our fans have been generous to the Mountaineers, and we are grateful. But for us to continue to compete at the highest levels, we must grow our fan support, our fundraising and our revenue generation efforts to provide the football program with the tools and resources to compete.
 

 

Supporting App State Athletics

Expenses in college athletics continue to rise. To reach comprehensive excellence, we need your continued support. Our current donors, new and prospective donors, corporate sponsors, fans and alumni all play a vital role in our comprehensive strategy moving forward.  
 
We need to be more innovative in the creation of new revenue streams through hosting additional events and entertainment experiences.
 
We all must elevate the urgency and execution of our efforts. We will continue to enhance the holistic student-athlete experience while strategically expanding our revenue share and NIL support. Our entire athletics department is committed to accelerating growth while building a sustainable foundation for the future.  
 
Many have asked how you can help move our programs forward. A gift to our sport-specific funds is a direct investment in:

• NIL and Revenue Share: Help us recruit and retain elite student-athletes by strengthening NIL and revenue share support.
• Student-Athlete Experience: Enhance the student-athlete experience including resources that support nutrition, student-athlete development, training and well-being.
• Long-Term Success: Provide competitive resources that allows our programs to sustain success in the Sun Belt and nationally.

Your support – whether through the Yosef Club, tickets, merchandise, sponsorships, student-athlete NIL, concessions or attending any of our events – plays a vital role in the success of our programs. App State Athletics is built on the passion and generosity of App Nation, and we would not be where we are today without you.
 

 

Winter Sports Update

• Coming off three straight SoCon title-winning seasons, Wrestling is off to another strong start with a 31-8 dual win against Duke and competitive showings against No. 10 NC State and No. 20 West Virginia. 
• Men’s Basketball has compiled an 8-6 record that includes exciting wins against regional rivals Charlotte, East Carolina, High Point and Coastal Carolina.
• Women’s Basketball also has a winning record (6-5) with nonconference victories over Western Michigan, Wofford, UNC Asheville and Gardner-Webb.
• In the first meet of the indoor track & field season, the Mountaineer women’s 4×400-meter squad broke a meet record for the first of what could be many records for this year’s track & field teams.

Facilities Progress

• Following the recent East Tower Advanced Planning announcement, a Kidd Brewer Stadium renovation survey will be sent out in the near future. We will be asking App State fans to provide vital feedback as planning progresses.
• Construction on the new Sofield Family Indoor Practice Facility is progressing, including significant grading work to prepare for the larger footprint of the new building.
• Baseball’s new hitting facility extension is currently in the bid process, with construction to commence in 2026.
• The Mildred Southern indoor tennis facility is on pace for completion in April.

There is much to look forward to in 2026 as we close the book on another memorable year in App State Sports.
 
Buy your season and single-game tickets for all ticketed sports at appstatesports.com/tickets. Football season tickets will go on sale in early January.
 
Please join us at the Mountaineer Laughs comedy show on Jan. 16 in downtown Boone, with proceeds going to support App State Athletics.
 
We wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season and a great start to the new year!
 
Go App!

Doug Gillin
Director of Athletics