When it comes to recent college athletics, few stories can match the rise of the Texas A&M volleyball program—a team that went from unranked three years ago to national champions. Their remarkable climb just earned major national recognition, as one of the country’s biggest publications placed their title run among the top women’s sports moments of the year.

On Monday, USA Today released its 2025 Top Ten Women’s Sports Moments, highlighting the most unforgettable achievements across the country. Women’s athletics delivered countless headline‑worthy performances this year, but when it came to upsets, nothing topped Texas A&M’s five‑set stunner over No. 1 Nebraska in the NCAA Tournament.

The Aggies toppled the undefeated favorite on its home floor, in front of a sea of red, to punch their ticket to the Final Four—then dominated the rest of the field on their way to the program’s first‑ever national championship.

A PERIOD OF FIRSTS AND MILESTONES

Botsford had to wait just over 100 minutes to secure his first win as head coach at UCF, as the Knights disposed of Chattanooga in four sets in the 2025 season opener. The contest commenced the Black and Gold Classic and an 11-match non-conference slate. It was also the first glance at the swarm of depth present at The Venue, with five Knights registering five or more kills.

Sweeps over Norfolk State and UC Riverside preceded the first road trip of the slate at the 305 Challenge in Miami. UCF demolished Statson in the first contest, outscoring the Hatters by 40 points across just 66 minutes of action. A Saturday night tilt with eventual NCAA second-round participants, Miami, saw the Knights beaten by a combined six points, a learning opportunity for the squad and a glimpse of the level of competition expected in the Big 12.

The weekend capper against hosts FIU featured 13 aces from UCF and the first breakout from English, who boasted eight and the most by a Knight since 2021. From then, the FGCU transfer never left the NCAA national rankings while widening her gap as the active leader in division one.

Returning home for three matchups before opening Big 12 action with Baylor, the Black and Gold produced their most complete performance of the season to open the Knights Invite, sweeping a red-hot Arkansas State team behind a formidable defensive display. The ‘Nauts then took care of business against Florida Atlantic in their first space match of the year in four sets. However, the highs of the past 48 hours were erased after a difficult defeat to Brown, a disappointing result with conference play just two days away.

The Big 12’s most historic program, Baylor, handed the Knights a three-set loss, with a contested third-set still supplying indications of future ranked contests. Before the rest of league play resumed, UCF ventured to the Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, striving to bounce back into the win column.

English was at the forefront of a well-rounded display against Memphis, tallying a career-high nine aces, tied for the second most by an athlete in a four-set NCAA match this season, to set the tone. A day later, the Knights disposed of the hosts in another four-set clinic, with first-year’s Haley and Porter playing substantial time in the contest. With Botsford’s first non-conference slate with the Knights completed, a 9-2 clip underlined the first sign of growth compared to a 7-3 record a year prior.

Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The 2025 volleyball season was another memorable season in the Your Prep Sports area.

West High, Clear Creek Amana and Regina all qualified for the state tournament with Clear Creek Amana advancing to the Class 4A semifinals.

Liberty High won 24 matches and advanced to a 5A regional title game and Solon won 29 matches and advanced to a Class 3A regional final.

The annual Your Prep Sports area volleyball team is a way to honor some of the players responsible for that team success this fall.

The 2025 Your Prep Sports all-area team features all-state and all-conference players, conference players of the year, state tournament participants, school record holders and college recruits.

This year’s 16-member team features players from all seven area schools including four nine players from state qualifiers Clear Creek Amana, West High and Regina.

Regina senior Reese Naeve is the captain of the 2025 Your Prep Sports all-area team after leading the state in kills for the second consecutive season.

An Iowa State signee, Naeve had 730 kills and 505 digs while leading Regina to the first back-to-back state tournament appearances in program history.

Naeve is the Your Prep Sports all-area team captain for the second consecutive season and is a four-time member of the team.

She is one of eight repeat selections on this year’s team joining three-time all-area team members Hadley and Edie Miller from Liberty High and Clear Creek Amana senior Averie Lower.

West High junior Sophia Austen, Clear Creek Amana senior Emily Henderson, Regina junior Addison Bollier and City High junior Hattie Galloway are all making their second appearance on the Your Prep Sports all-area team.

Reese Naeve (Captain)

Senior, Regina

The most productive hitter in the state the past two seasons Naeve capped a brilliant prep career by leading Regina to the first back-to-back state tournament appearances in program history.

Naeve hammered a state-best 730 kills on a career-best hitting percentage of .334 while leading Regina to a 30-14 record and a spot in the Class 2A state tournament.

An Iowa State signee, Naeve led the state in kills for the second consecutive season and her 730 kills were 192 more kills than any other player in the state.

Naeve was named to the Elite all-state team and was the River Valley Conference South Division player of the year after helping Regina to its highest win total in at least 17 seasons.

The 5-foot-9 Naeve did more than just hit during her impressive season.

She had 40 blocks and 36 ace serves and ranked 16^th in the state and sixth in Class 2A with 505 digs.

A four-year starter Naeve had at least 440 kills in each of the last four seasons closing her career with a program-record 2,525 kills.

Naeve also had 1,498 digs career digs, 146 career ace serves and 100 career blocks while helping Regina to 99 wins over the past four seasons.

Averie Lower

Senior, Clear Creek Amana

Among the top players in the state over the past several seasons Lower concluded a brilliant career by helping Clear Creek Amana to a fourth consecutive state tournament appearance.

Lower led the Clippers in kills for the second consecutive season, posting a fourth straight season with at least 220 kills as Clear Creek Amana went 42-4 and advanced to the Class 4A semifinals.

The 6-foot Lower had a team-high 344 kills on .285 hitting on her way to being named the WAMAC West Division player of the year and a first-team Class 4A all-state selection.

An Arizona State basketball recruit, Lower ranked seventh in Class 4A with 344 kills and added 296 digs, 50 blocks and 28 ace serves.

A four-year starter, Lower finished her career with 1,258 kills and 1,279 digs after posting back-to-back seasons with at least 340 kills and 290 digs.

Sophia Austen

Junior, West High

West High enjoyed a breakthrough season this fall posting its highest win total in a decade and making its first state tournament appearance since 2016 and Austen was a big part of the success for the Trojans.

Austen earned Class 5A first-team all-state honors and was a unanimous Mississippi Valley Conference first-team all-Mississippi Division selection following a stellar season in which she ranked 12^th in 5A with 285 kills.

An Iowa State recruit, Austen ranked second on the team with 285 kills on .217 hitting and added 318 digs, 36 blocks and 34 ace serves while helping West High to a 27-6 record.

A three-year starter, Austen has already amassed 760 career kills and 763 career digs.

Emily Henderson

Senior, Clear Creek Amana

One of the best and most productive setters in the state Henderson put the finishing touches on a stellar prep career with her best season.

Henderson ranked second in Class 4A and fourth in the state with a career-high 1,012 assists leading Clear Creek Amana to a 42-4 record and a fourth consecutive state tournament appearance.

A four-year starter, Henderson led Clear Creek Amana to a 159-24 record, three state semifinal appearances and a state title game trip in her time leading the Clipper attack.

Henderson was at her best this season adding 92 kills on .433 hitting, 249 digs and 26 blocks on her way to being a unanimous first-team all-WAMAC West Division pick and first-team Class 4A all-state selection.

In her four-year career Henderson racked up 2,988 assists, 992 digs and 301 kills.

Edie Miller

Junior, Liberty High

One of the top backrow players in the state Miller continued her impressive prep career with another stellar season.

Miller earned Class 5A second-team all-state honors after ranking second in 5A with 5.2 digs per set to help Liberty High to a 24-11 record and a spot in a 5A regional title game.

A Dayton recruit, Miller was a unanimous Mississippi Valley Conference first-team all-Mississippi Division pick after ranking third in 5A with 480 total digs.

Miller added a career-high 34 ace serves this season as Liberty High advanced to a regional title for the seventh consecutive season.

In three seasons Miller has amassed 1,622 career digs and 88 ace serves.

Hattie Galloway

Junior, City High

Galloway continued her steady ascent into one of the state’s top players this season posting career-highs in kills, digs and blocks on her way to earning all-state honors.

A three-year starter, Galloway has increased her production each of the past two seasons compiling her best season to date this fall.

Galloway earned Class 5A second team all-state honors after a junior season in which she was one of only two players in 5A with 270 kills, a hitting percentage over .300 and 70 blocks.

The 6-foot-1 Galloway led City High with 270 kills, a .321 hitting efficiency and 73 blocks on her way to being a unanimous Mississippi Valley Conference first-team all-Valley Division selection.

Galloway also had a career-high 107 digs and 19 ace serves this season helping City High to a 9-19 record.

Kiley Devery

Senior, Solon

Devery capped an excellent career with a breakthrough senior season in which she established herself as one of the top hitters in Class 4A.

The 6-foot-2 Devery posted career-highs in both kills and digs while leading Solon to a 29-10 record and a spot in a Class 4A regional title game.

Devery earned Class 4A third-team all-state honors and was a unanimous first team all-WAMAC East Division selection after leading Solon with 338 kills on .272 hitting.

A Fresno State recruit, Devery added 56 blocks, 104 digs and 27 ace serves while helping Solon to its highest win total in 10 years.

A four-year starter, Devery finished her high school career with 1,027 kills including 524 over the past two seasons.

Addison Bollier

Junior, Regina

Bollier continued to build her resume as one of the top backrow players in the state with an impressive junior season in which she led the state in digs while helping Regina return to the Class 2A state tournament.

A Samford recruit, Bollier collected a state-beset 794 digs this season, averaging 6.8 digs per set while helping the Regals to a 30-14 record and a second consecutive appearance at the Class 2A state tournament.

Bollier has quickly emerged as one of the state’s best backrow players increasing her dig total in each of the past two seasons.

After collecting 380 digs as a freshman Bollier has led the Regals in digs each of the past two season while collecting 1,477 digs during that span.

Bollier was a third-team Class 2A all-state pick and earned River Valley Conference South Division first team honors last season when she added 25 ace serves.

In her career Bollier has 1,857 digs.

Bailey Simpson

Junior, Clear Creek Amana

The emergence of Simpson has a dominant force on both sides of the net was a huge reason for the success of Clear Creek Amana this season as the Clippers won 42 matches and advanced to the 4A state semifinals.

Last season as a sophomore Simpson established herself as a solid option for the Clippers posting 216 kills on .242 hitting.

This season Simpson took her game to another level earning Class 4A second-team all-state and unanimous first-team WAMAC West Division honors after ranking second on the team in kills and leading the Clippers in blocks.

Simpson hammered a career-high 298 kills and ranked third in Class 4A with a hitting efficiency of .379.

The 6-foot-2 Simpson was equally efficient defensively as she led Clear Creek Amana and ranked fourth in Class 4A with 101 blocks to go with 88 digs.

Lila Eastvold

Junior, West High

Eastvold took a huge step forward in her second season leading the West High attack helping the Trojans to their best season in nearly a decade.

The 5-foot-10 Eastvold ranked third in Class 5A with 895 assists to help West High to a 27-6 record and its first state tournament appearance since 2016.

Eastvold earned Class 5A third-team all-state honors and was a unanimous Mississippi Valley Conference first-team all-Mississippi Division selection following her breakthrough junior season.

In her second season as the full-time starter at setter, Eastvold had career-highs in kills, hitting efficiency, digs and blocks along with her 895 assists.

Eastvold had 62 kills on .306 hitting and added 178 digs, 22 blocks and 32 ace serves.

Cyan Blommer

Freshman, West High

Blommer burst onto the scene this season wasting no time establishing herself as one of the top young hitters in the state.

In her varsity debut season Blommer led West High and ranked 11^th in Class 5A with 287 kills while helping the Trojans to a 27-6 record and their first state tournament appearance since 2016.

The 287 kills for Blommer were the most for a freshman in Class 5A and the sixth most for any freshman in the state this season.

A first-team Mississippi Valley Conference all-Mississippi Division selection, Blommer hit .217 in her debut season and did a lot more than just hit.

Blommer ranked second on the team with 320 digs and added 14 ace serves and 17 blocks as West High posted its highest win total since 2015.

Amelia Guinn

Freshman, Solon

Among the top freshman in the state Guinn posted a stellar debut season ranking second on the team in kills while helping Solon reach a Class 4A regional title game.

In her first varsity season Guinn acclimated quickly hammering 237 kills on .220 hitting on her way to earning second-team all-WAMAC East Division honors.

The 6-foot-1 Guinn added 30 blocks and 67 digs during an impressive debut season that concluded with a 20-kill effort in a regional final loss to Marion.

Guinn ranked 15^th in the state among freshman for total kills and her 237 kills were the fifth most for freshmen in Class 4A and 5A this season.

Hadley Miller

Junior, Liberty High

Among the most versatile players in the state Miller continued to do it all for the Lightning while helping Liberty High to a 24-11 record and a spot in a 5A regional title game.

Miller was a Mississippi Valley Conference second-team all-Mississippi Division pick after ranking fifth in Class 5A with 758 assists.

A three-year starter, Miller had her best season to date this fall posting career highs in assists, kills, hitting percentage, digs, blocks and ace serves.

In addition to leading the Lightning in assists, Miller ranked fourth on the team with 133 kills on .262 hitting which ranked second on the team.

The 5-foot-5 Miller ranked second on the team with 306 digs and had 25 blocks and 37 ace serves.

Briley Kaalberg

Senior, West Branch

Kaalberg followed up a strong junior season with an exceptional senior season in which she led the Bears in kills, hitting efficiency and blocks.

The 6-foot Kaalberg earned all-River Valley Conference South Division second-team honors after hammering 228 kills on .337 hitting.

Kaalberg was efficient on offense but was perhaps even better defensively as she ranked fifth in Class 2A with 115 blocks and was third in 2A with 1.2 blocks per set.

The senior standout also had 45 digs and 22 ace serves while helping West Branch to an 18-18 record.

Over the past two seasons Kaalberg had 361 kills and 181 blocks.

Julia Schlarbaum

Sophomore, Clear Creek Amana

After posting 94 kills in a complimentary role last season as a freshman Schlarbaum emerged as one of the top young hitters in the state this season with a breakthrough sophomore season.

Schlarbaum ranked third on the team in both kills and hitting efficiency while helping Clear Creek Amana to a 42-4 record and a spot in the Class 4A state semifinals.

The 6-foot Schlarbaum had 264 kills on .288 hitting on her way to earning second-team all-WAMAC West Division and third-team Class 3A all-state honors.

Schlarbaum led Class 4A with 72 ace serves and added 26 blocks while helping Clear Creek Amana to a fourth consecutive state tournament appearance.

Kennedey Whitford

Senior, Solon

A backrow stalwart for the Spartans the past four seasons Whitford capped a stellar prep career with her best season this fall.

Whitford led Solon in digs for the fourth consecutive season on her way to earning Class 4A third-team all-state honors and unanimous WAMAC East Division first-team honors.

A South Dakota State recruit, Whitford had a career-high 446 digs and led the Spartans with 51 ace serves while helping Solon to a 29-10 record and a spot in a Class 4A regional title game.

Whitford ranked fourth in Class 4A in total digs and seventh in 4A with 4.4 digs per set and also added 116 assists in a strong senior season.

A four-year starter, Whitford closed her career with three consecutive seasons with at least 400 digs finishing with 1,545 digs and 119 ace serves.

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The Appalachian Newspapers’ 2025 All Mountain Volleyball Team is comprised of players from the 15th Region, Jenkins, Buckhorn, Knott Central, Perry Central, Hazard and Letcher Central.

The 2025 All-Mountain Volleyball Team was voted upon by the Appalachian Newspapers’ Randy White, Steve LeMaster and Adam Mahan.

All Mountain 

Volleyball Player of the Year nominees:

Kylie Kinner — Paintsville

Miley Riddle — Shelby Valley

Lindy Gearheart — Pikeville

Taylor Baker — Knott Central

All Mountain Volleyball 

Player of the Year

Miley Riddle — Shelby Valley: Riddle had an outstanding junior season. She led the state in kills with 838 (Paintsville’s Kylie Kinner finished second with 828). Riddle helped Shelby Valley to its most successful season in school history as the Lady Wildcats finished the season with a 34-6 record. Shelby Valley won the 15th Region All “A” Classic and advanced to the state All “A” Classic Bronze Division finals, the 59th District Tournament, their first-ever 15th Region Tournament championship, a win over Knott Central in the opening round of the KHSAA Volleyball State Tournament and an appearance in the state volleyball quarterfinals.

All Mountain Coach of 

the Year nominees:

Misty Riddle — Shelby Valley

Dawn Kinner — Paintsville

Shae Cornett — Knott Central

All Mountain Coach 

of the Year:

Misty Riddle — Shelby Valley: Riddle helped Shelby Valley to its most successful season in school history as the Lady Wildcats finished the season with a 34-6 record. Shelby Valley won the 15th Region All “A” Classic and advanced to the state All “A” Classic Bronze Division finals, the 59th District Tournament, their first-ever 15th Region Tournament championship, a win over Knott Central in the opening round of the KHSAA Volleyball State Tournament and an appearance in the state volleyball quarterfinals.

All-Mountain 

Volleyball Team

Shelby Valley

Sahnia Linton

Talynn Johnson

Ryleigh Perry

Makaya Price

Lindsay Baldwin 

Paintsville

Kylie Kinner

Mallory May

Ella Wells

Addison Helton

Annabelle Blankenship

Pikeville

Lindy Gearheart

Carly May

Sophie Woods

Catharine Walters

Kyla Lee

East Ridge

Savannah Baldridge

Lily Stacy

Savannah Wallace

Olivia Stanley

Pike Central

Layla Johnson

Sadie Vaughn

Alyssa Hess

Molly Reed

Claire Stacy

Belfry

Baylor Hall

Makaylin Meade

Abrielle Swain

Phelps

Aerionna Pigman

Charity Mounts

Cloey Bevins

Johnson Central

Chloe Reed

Macie Clark

Mia Estep

Madi Conn

Leah Hall 

Martin County

No stats listed on the KHSAA website

Magoffin County

Karlee Wallen

Kellen Simpkins

Jaylee Reed

Abby Barnett

Betsy Layne

Jayden Jarrell

Jania Isom

Harlyn Slone

Aubrey Williams

Miley Burchett

Prestonsburg

Addison Wright

Ally Hamilton

Katie Slone

Kennedy Dixon

Floyd Central

Chloe Howard

Lydia Wallace

Caidence Lafferty

Rylee Daniels

Miley Thornsberry

Lawrence County

Brylee Stafford

Aryn Huffman

Kailyn Stacy

Hazard

Savannah Combs

Mallory Mitchell

Rachel Allen

Adyson Jent

Perry Central

Laney Davis

Lylah Sullivan

Meghan Asher

Kinley McGraner

Chloe Campbell

Knott Central

Taylor Baker

Zoe Miller

Samara Bailey

Ava Waddell

Avery Conley

Buckhorn

Ashlynn Adams

Chasity Turner

Haylee-Drew Blank

Jenkins

Abbigail Lilly

Peyton Wilder

Kassidy Bolling

Letcher Central

Evany Pack

Kelsi Holbrook

Calissa Lowe

Hanna Eldridge

Under Armour Next

Taylor Stanley

The new year will begin with a significant showcase for a player who could mean a lot to the Kansas volleyball team down the line.

Right-side hitter Taylor Stanley, a 2026 signee, will take part in the Under Armour All-America Game, an all-star match that purports to feature “the 28 best high school volleyball players in the country, hands down.” The event will take place at The Venue at UCF in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday and is set for livestreams on ESPN+ and the SportsCenter Next YouTube channel beginning at 3 p.m. Central Time.

Stanley will wear No. 23 for Team Roses, which is led by longtime Texas, USC and United States national team coach Mick Haley, as one of seven pin hitters on its roster. She is the only Kansan or KU pledge taking part in the event.

Stanley stands 6-foot-3 and has played for Blue Valley Southwest High School in Overland Park and the KC Power club team.

“Taylor definitely represents the best player in the area, and she’s choosing to be at her home school, and she wants to be a Jayhawk, KU coach Matt Ulmer said in a VBAdrenaline livestream for signing day, “and again hopefully people will want to follow that.”

She signed with KU in November and, according to her school newspaper, is set to enroll early, meaning she will join the Jayhawks not long after taking part in the All-America Game. VBAdrenaline.com ranks Stanley as the No. 12 overall player in the class and the No. 1 opposite.

“I don’t know what you don’t like about her,” Ulmer said on the livestream. “I really think there’s everything that you would want in an opposite. She can absolutely bring that. She can also score from the left, she can score from the back row, I mean, she’s going to be a six-rotation point scorer, and we know the names of the people that can do that at a high level, and I think that’s what she can bring.”

She has spent time representing the U.S. at the youth level, as she played with the under-19 national team, which competed above its age group at the 2025 FIVB Women’s U21 World Championship in Surabaya, Indonesia, in August. The U.S. went 7-2 with a ninth-place finish.

At KU, Stanley will be part of a six-player class that also includes pin hitters Tessa Dodd, Avery Poulton and Ryan Sadler and middle blockers Cydnee Bryant and Jaeli Rutledge. She may see significant action right away on the right side, in part because of the qualities Ulmer described and in part because of the offseason departure of all-conference opposite Jovana Zelenović.

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Written By Henry Greenstein

Henry is the sports editor at the Lawrence Journal-World and KUsports.com, and serves as the KU beat writer while managing day-to-day sports coverage. He previously worked as a sports reporter at The Bakersfield Californian and is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis (B.A., Linguistics) and Arizona State University (M.A., Sports Journalism). Though a native of Los Angeles, he has frequently been told he does not give off “California vibes,” whatever that means.

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