PRESS RELEASE: UK ATHLETICS

The Kentucky Volleyball team announced the signing of outside hitter Morgan Gaerte on Wednesday afternoon, who joins the Wildcats with two years of eligibility remaining on her clock.

Gaerte comes to Lexington after spending the first two years of her career at Notre Dame, where she was named First Team All-ACC after the 2025 season and honorable mention on the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association All-America list for this year, as well. She was a team captain for Notre Dame and a member of the AVCA Midwest Region’s first team. 

This season, she started all 28 matches and logged 497 kills for the Irish, the most by any Notre Dame player in the rally-scoring era (2008-pres.) and third-most overall in all scoring eras. Gaerte averaged a mammoth 4.64 kills per set and had 10-plus kills in 22-straight matches to kick off the UND season, the second-longest streak in program history for Notre Dame. 

Standing at six-foot-five, she hails from Angola, Indiana where she graduated from Angola High School while being ranked as the No. 5 player in the nation by Volleyball Magazine in 2023 and first team all-state for Indiana in 2022 and 2023. She is majoring in Sports Marketing. 

For the latest on UK Volleyball, follow the Wildcats on Twitter and Instagram at @KentuckyVB. 

The journey was long.

The tournament was a gauntlet.

The ending was unforgettable.

Texas A&M volleyball sits atop the college volleyball world after winning the national championship in Kansas City on Sunday.

A group of nine seniors, an impact transfer and talented youngsters bought into the vision of a third-year head coach and reached the mountaintop… faster than Jamie Morrison originally thought!

Let’s look back on the highs (of which there are many) and lows from the 29-4 campaign, which ended with a trophy ceremony under a shower of confetti.

10. “Voldemort weekend”
Any complete story includes both the good and the bad. For A&M, there were way more wins than losses as the Aggies dropped just four matches all year.

Half of those came during a Tuesday-Wednesday back-to-back in Dallas and Fort Worth.

A sweep from top-10 SMU and a marathon loss at No. 15 TCU just so happened to be a blessing in disguise for a squad that started the season ranked No. 8 and ultimately fell to No. 14 in the AVCA rankings.

“I thought that changed the tone of our season,” Morrison said months after those September defeats. “It was a wake-up call. We need to dial into things that make us us. We need to hold each other accountable every single day.”

Re-centered and re-focused, the Aggies won 21 of their next 23 sets to carry a seven-match winning streak into an Oct. 8 date with No. 3 Kentucky.

9. Reed’s first-ever top-10 match
At 4-0 in SEC play, A&M set up a heavyweight battle with one of the league’s best as No. 3 Kentucky came to Aggieland in early October.

The Wildcats entered at 10-2 with September losses to No. 1 Nebraska and No. 7 Pittsburgh.

Reed welcomed the fifth-largest crowd in program history as 4,469 turned out to watch the Aggies take the first set, 25-21.

However, Kentucky rallied to win the next three, including a 27-25 clincher to hand A&M its only regular-season loss in SEC play.

“I’m a little disappointed and really cut up right now that we couldn’t put that to five,” Morrison said then.

When the two teams met again, A&M wouldn’t need four sets, let alone five.

Kara Andrews, TexAgs

Eight of Texas A&M volleyball’s top 12 crowds came to Reed Arena in 2025, including a program-record 9,801 vs. Texas on Halloween. The 4,469 for the Kentucky match now ranks ninth-best.

8. The winning streak
From Oct. 12 through Nov. 23, the Maroon & White looked invincible as they won 11 consecutive matches and swept eight conference opponents in the process.

The dominant stretch helped A&M finish a perfect 8-0 away from Reed in SEC play and reach the semifinals of the SEC Tournament in Savannah.

Oh, and it also included a pair of top-20 victories, the first of which came on…

7. Halloween in Aggieland
Morrison & Co. showed signs of the build back in 2024 when they waltzed into Austin and upset No. 7 Texas in five sets for their first victory at Gregory Gym in 23 years.

When the Lone Star Showdown shifted back to Aggieland on Oct. 31, 2025, the archrivals treated a program-record 9,801 to another five-set classic at Reed Arena.

Kyndal Stowers hit .400 with 22 kills to lead the way. Ifenna Cos-Okpalla had nine blocks. Maddie Waak dished out 46 assists.

In the end, A&M’s victory over No. 2 Texas served as the program’s highest-ranked win since 1995 as well as a message to the rest of the country.

Will Huffman, TexAgs

A&M has won the last two regular-season meetings with the Texas Longhorns.

“A lot of people fear Texas’ logo, and I don’t think that’s the case anymore,” Morrison said. “We proved we can beat them on a national stage. This is huge for our program.”

6. Selection Sunday
At 23-4 and 14-1 in the SEC, A&M was handed a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament by the selection committee…in No. 1 overall seed Nebraska’s region…that also featured 2024 national runner-up Louisville.

“I think our RPI system is broken,” Morrison said after winning it all. “I don’t think our seeding was correct. I think we were probably No. 5 or No. 6 (nationally).”

Their national ranking — No. 6 — would’ve equated to a No. 2 seed.

Additionally, the same TCU team that beat the Aggies in September was sent to College Station for the second round.

As is often the case when committees are involved, A&M was underseeded, but they clearly took that as fuel to ignite a postseason fire.

5. A program-record FOUR (4) All-Americans
Starpower shined throughout the year and then was honored in the postseason as AVCA recognized Ifenna Cos-Okpalla, Logan Lednicky, Kyndal Stowers and Maddie Waak as All-Americans.

Cos-Okpalla became A&M’s fourth-ever first-teamer, while Lednicky earned a second-consecutive second-team honor.

Waak, the nation’s leader in assists per set entering the postseason, was recognized on the third team after becoming the first Aggie setter since 2019 to have back-to-back 1,000-assist seasons.

And last but certainly not least, Stowers — who might be the best story in sports right now — went from being out of volleyball altogether following a medical retirement at Baylor to becoming a second-team All-American. She was at her best in the NCAA Tournament, with double-digit kills in A&M’s final five matches.

4. Morrison recognized as the National Coach of the Year
Sticking with postseason accolades, the AVCA honored the Aggie head man just hours before the program’s Final Four match vs. Pittsburgh.

At that time, A&M was already enjoying a historic season with a 27-4 record to represent the most wins in the rally-scoring era and the most since 1999.

“I am honored to receive this award and accept it on behalf of our outstanding university, athletic department, athletes, coaching staff, fans and everyone who works tirelessly within our program,” coach Morrison said. “This recognition is the result of a true collective effort, and I could not be prouder of the people I work alongside or the place I am fortunate to call home.”

Little did he know that a historic 2025 was a few days away from becoming legendary.

3. Reverse sweep of Louisville
Friday, Dec. 12, gave birth to the “Why Not Us” mantra that became synonymous with the 2025 national champions.

As the story goes, when A&M was down 2-0 and staring elimination in the face, Ava Underwood’s and Logan Lednicky’s boyfriends took a trip to the concession stand in search of something — anything — to change the momentum.

Why not, right?

Facing the 2024 national runner-up, the Aggies won a hard-fought third set to stay alive, 25-23. With a 25-18 win in the fourth, they forced a decisive race to 15.

Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Kyndal Stowers had 17 kills vs. Louisville, including the set-clinching markers in each of the third, fourth and fifth frames.

Stowers, who had back-to-back points to stave off defeat in a 23-23 third-set deadlock, clinched both the fourth and fifth sets to send A&M to its first Elite Eight since 2001.

As the mysterious piece of paper next to A&M’s bench prophesied: Something great did happen and was about to happen again.

2. Knocking off Nebraska
Nobody — literally, nobody — had gone into Lincoln’s Bob Devaney Sports Center and defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers on their home floor in over 1,000 days.

That changed on Dec. 14 in one of the sport’s more shocking upsets in recent memory.

Nebraska, the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed, was 33-0 with 28 sweeps to its credit. Prior to the dance beginning, the Huskers were given a 55.5 percent chance to win it all.

A&M didn’t care. Was their victory miraculous? Perhaps, but instead of David vs. Goliath, it was more Goliath vs. Goliath’s stronger, lesser-known sibling.

The Aggies won the first two sets, stunning the Big Red crowd of 8,650. Even when Nebraska rallied back and won an exhausting 37-35 fourth set, the Ags never blinked. Instead, their grit and resolve reached a higher level.

As she so often had throughout her incredible career, Lednicky’s 24th and final kill of the match clinched a 15-13 fifth-set victory and punched A&M’s ticket to the program’s first Final Four.

Despite being the overwhelming championship favorite, Nebraska represented the first of three consecutive No. 1 seeds vanquished along A&M’s path to the national title.

“I don’t think it’s been the greatest upset in the history of sport,” Morrison said. “It was a really good volleyball team that put the work in at the right time of year, cared about each other, decided we were going to go grind. We were not going to back down from everybody.

“For us, we don’t consider it an upset because we consider ourselves really, really good. We played with a chip on our shoulder to try to prove it to everybody.”

1. Cos-Okpalla cues confetti in KC
During the second set of the national final, Ifenna Cos-Okpalla became A&M’s all-time leading blocker with the 653rd of her career. She’d finish with 655.

But that wasn’t her crowning moment.

On the third championship point of the day, an Emily Hellmuth dig led to a Waak set for one of three attacking options, but the ball didn’t go to Lednicky or Stowers.

The 6-foot-2 senior from Flower Mound rose high above the net as if suspended for a moment that will live forever in Aggie lore.

“I figured if I got the ball, I’d put it away,” she said. “I knew once I got set, I’m putting it away regardless.”

Known for her stoic presence after monster blocks or emphatic kills, the ever-calm Cos-Okpalla finally let it all out as her teammates rushed the floor with confetti raining down and thousands celebrated the Aggies.

Hugs, tears and trophies — all hard-earned — represented a monumental achievement: The first team in history to sweep back-to-back matches in the Final Four on the road to immortality.

A banner and championship rings will follow. The Aggies finished the job, completing a build to prominence that only took three seasons.

“It’s so amazing to be able to see the fruition of our work now,” Morrison said. “For all of them, they wanted to build something, be a part of something, go out on top with a national championship, I’m just really happy.

“When I’m sitting in the locker room just staring off, our staring off in a distance, it’s a mixture of disbelief and absolute joy they’re getting to see the work they put in pay off.”

In just three years, Ella Thompson went from never playing organized volleyball to committing to a top-25 NCAA Division I program.

But it wasn’t like she started from scratch.

With a father and two older siblings who were NCAA track and field athletes, Thompson had competed in that sport for most of her life.

When she began playing volleyball in the eighth grade, her track and field skills translated perfectly into her new favorite sport.

After all, when you combine the leaping ability of a high jumper with the arm speed of a javelin thrower, you might get an elite outside hitter in volleyball.

That’s exactly what Thompson is.

The senior capped her high school career by leading Camas to its third consecutive state trophy. Thompson was named to the Class 4A all-tournament team after helping the Papermakers place fifth.

1. Maddy Siegrist – 7,052 points

Maddy Siegrist capped her second AU season by setting league single-season records with 7,052 total leaderboard points and 3,540 win points. The 2025 champion became the first player in AU Pro Basketball history to surpass 7,000 leaderboard points in a single season while leading the league with 780 MVP points.

Siegrist started all 12 games and matched the league record with 11 Game MVP certificates, including six MVP 1 recognitions. She opened the season with 11 consecutive Game MVP honors, marking the longest streak by a player in any Athletes Unlimited sport. She averaged 24.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game while shooting 54.0 percent from the field.

2. Odyssey Sims – 6,595 points

Odyssey Sims made her second consecutive runner-up finish and became the third player in any Athletes Unlimited sport to earn medalist honors three times. The All-Defensive Team member started all 12 games and led the league with 3,115 stat points while ranking second with 660 MVP points.

Sims maintained the league-high 25.5 scoring average, the third-highest mark in AU Pro Basketball history. She also led the league in assists (78), free throws made (78), and fouls drawn (67). She broke the AU Pro Basketball single-game record by collecting 941 leaderboard points in an MVP 1 performance against Team Bradford on February 15, when she posted a career-high 41 points.

3. Crystal Bradford – 5,304 points

Crystal Bradford finished third in the league with 5,304 leaderboard points and earned a spot on the All-Defensive Team. She appeared in all 12 games with nine starts and became the first player in AU Pro Basketball history to average a double-double in multiple seasons.

Bradford led the league with 18.3 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, along with eight double-doubles and 31 steals. She erupted for a career-high 38 points against Team Sims on February 27 while shooting 13-for-29 from the field and knocking down an AU single-game record 10 three-pointers.

4. Maya Caldwell – 4,860 points

Maya Caldwell secured fourth place in her Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball debut with 4,860 leaderboard points. She started in all 12 games and posted a 7-5 game record, including a 2-1 mark as team captain during Week 3.

Caldwell ranked seventh in the league with a 15.6 scoring average and 6.6 rebounds per game. She surpassed 500 leaderboard points in six separate games and finished the season with a streak of seven consecutive double-digit scoring performances.

5. Ty Harris – 4,468 points

Ty Harris earned Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball Newcomer of the Year honors after ending her first season in fifth place with 4,468 leaderboard points. She had a 7-5 overall record, including a 3-3 mark in two weeks as team captain.

Harris ranked eighth in the league with a 15.5 points per game scoring average and tied for the league lead with 27 made three-point field goals. She opened her AU career by earning MVP 3 honors and a season-high 714 leaderboard points against Team Bell on February 5 after nailing 8-of-11 field goal attempts for 26 points.

6. Elizabeth Williams – 4,427 points

Elizabeth Williams earned All-Defensive Team honors and placed sixth in league standings with 4,427 leaderboard points. She started in all 12 games and led the league with 16 blocked shots while ranking fifth with a 7.1 rebounding average, adding 9.3 points per game.

Williams posted five double-digit scoring performances, including all three games during Week Two. She scored a season-high 14 points versus Team Siegrist on February 14, while making 7-of-10 field goal attempts.

7. Lexie Brown – 4,405 points

Lexie Brown earned seventh place with 4,405 leaderboard points while ranking fifth in the league with 1,675 stat points. She made 12 starts and scored double figures 11 times, including two outings with 20 or more points. She ranked fifth in the league by averaging 16.0 points per game.

Brown ended the season with a streak of 10 consecutive double-digit scoring performances and ranked third in the league with 22 steals. She tallied a season-high 24 points versus Team Siegrist on March 1 while claiming MVP 2 honors.

8. Isabelle Harrison – 4,383 points

Isabelle Harrison completed her fourth AU Pro Basketball season with 4,383 leaderboard points to earn eighth place. She ranked fourth in the league with a 17.6 scoring average and third in rebounds by grabbing 8.3 per game.

Harrison scored in double figures in 10 of 11 games, including four outings with 20 or more points. She closed the season with six consecutive double-digit performances, averaging 19.7 points per game during the streak with three double-doubles. Her season-high 27 points came in an MVP 3 performance versus Team Harris on March 1.

9. Kia Nurse – 4,254 points

Kia Nurse opened her Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball career by earning ninth place with 4,254 leaderboard points. She registered nine double-digit scoring outings, including a pair of 20-point performances, and ranked eighth in the league by averaging 15.8 points per game.

Nurse tallied a season-high 35 points against Team Siegrist to begin Week Two, claiming MVP 2 honors after knocking down 11-of-22 shots from the floor. She ended the season with an MVP 2 nod after scoring 16 points, including the game-winning three-pointer in the closing seconds against Team Siegrist.

10. Bria Hartley – 4,175 points

Bria Hartley completed her first AU Pro Basketball season by earning 10th place with 4,175 leaderboard points. She ranked third in the league with seven Game MVP awards and started all 12 games while logging nine double-digit scoring performances.

Hartley averaged 15.1 points per game and ranked third in the league with 51 assists. She scored a season-high 26 points with eight assists in the season finale versus Team Sims while earning MVP 3 recognition, and received Game MVP honors in all three contests during Week Two.

AU Pro Basketball returns to Nashville, Tennessee, with elite talent and electrifying energy, for its fifth championship season on February 4, 2026, at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. Tickets for the upcoming season are available now.

Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.

University of Missouri student-athletes excelled in the classroom at the conclusion of the Fall 2025 semester, registering above a 3.30 cumulative grade point average for the fifth year in a row. Mizzou student-athletes finished out the semester with a 3.31 overall GPA, as 18 earned their degrees at the Winter Commencement.

This marks the 18th consecutive semester where Mizzou student-athletes produced an average GPA of 3.0 or higher.

“We are incredibly proud of the commitment our student-athletes continue to show in the classroom,” Director of Athletics Laird Veatch said. “Achieving another strong cumulative GPA reflects a culture of excellence that goes far beyond competition. Our student-athletes truly believe every step matters and understand that daily habits, preparation and accountability lead to long-term success.”

“This accomplishment reflects the hard work and commitment of our student-athletes throughout the semester,” Executive Athletics Director for Academic Services Tami Chievous said. “Their success is matched by the tireless dedication of our academic services staff that provides consistent guidance and support every step of the way. Together, they continue to set and uphold a high standard of academic excellence at Mizzou.”

Overall, 64 student-athletes registered a 4.0 GPA during the Fall 2025 semester across 15 programs, while 206 finished with a 3.50 or higher and 336 recorded a 3.0 or higher.

This past semester, the gymnastics team posted its best Fall semester GPA in program history (3.61), while eight other programs recorded a 3.50 or higher: men’s golf (3.52), women’s basketball (3.52), women’s golf (3.58), softball (3.55), soccer (3.67), women’s swimming and diving (3.82), tennis (3.67) and volleyball (3.54).

Fall 2025 Graduates

College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources

Lexi Craig, Women’s Track and Field

College of Health Sciences

Grant Bochenski, Men’s Swimming and Diving

Jerrdon Fisher, Wrestling

Jessica Larson, Soccer

Logan Muckey, Football

Nic Smith, Baseball

Tyrah Ariail, Volleyball (Grad Cert)

Taylor Ciccolini, Women’s Track and Field (Grad Cert)

Keagen Trost, Football (Grad Cert)

College of Arts and Science

Vince Brown, Football

Hailey Chambliss, Soccer

Kevin Coleman, Football

Lasse Funck, Men’s Track and Field

Steve Hall, Football

Haidyn Sokoloski, Softball

Zion Young, Football

Trulaske College of Business

James Conway, Wrestling

Addie Dobson, Women’s Golf

Texas A&M volleyball’s memorable 2025 season ended with the program’s first National Championship, led by a complete team effort, resulting in the Aggies’ historic run inthe NCAA Tournament that included a reverse sweep against 3-seed Louisville, and an epic 5-set win over No. 1 Nebraska in Lincoln, and back-to-back sweeps over 1-seed Pitt and 1-seed Kentucky in the Title Game.

Led by nine seniors, including Aggie legacy Logan Lednicky, Texas A&M head coach Jamie Morrison has accomplished his primary goal in just his third season at the helm, and can thank Lednicky and the eight other seniors for staying the course and ultimately achieving their dreams in the process.

Hours after Texas A&M’s Championship victory, it was assumed that Lednicky would pursue a professional volleyball career. On Friday afternoon, it was confirmed that the Sugar Land, Texas native had signed her first professional contract with League One Volleyball (LOVB) Houston.