BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- A renowned program like WKU Volleyball has seen some of the nations best athletes - a few of which have gone on to play professionally. With multiple professional leagues in Europe and the recent launch of the Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF), WKU Volleyball has seen athletes and coaches involved with the program on the big stage. Â
Paige Briggs-Romine ('23), Kaylee Cox ('24), Lauren Matthews ('22), Rachel (Anderson) Gomez ('18), and Jena Otec (assistant coach) now play in professional leagues, making just as big an impact on their new teams as they did here in Bowling Green. Â
Briggs-Romine has made waves across the PVF. After graduating from WKU in Dec. 2023, the 5'10" outside hitter was drafted in No. 5 overall in the PVF Draft, and was later traded to the Omaha Supernovas. There, she played 25 matches and recorded 86 kills, 107 digs, 10 aces and five blocks. Â
The Ortonville, Michigan native also played in the Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball League in 2024, not long before beginning a new season with the Grand Rapids Rise, another team in the PVF. Over 13 sets, Briggs-Romine totals 13 kills, 13 digs, and one ace. Her team will hit the court again on Friday, Feb. 7, where they face Columbus Fury at Nationwide Arena.Â
Fellow alumna Cox will play in that game, too, as she spends her rookie season with Columbus Fury. After being drafted to the Fury at the No. 18 pick overall, Cox has played in 25 of 28 sets so far this season. She tallies 58 kills, 56 digs, 13 blocks, and four aces at the start of her professional debut. Â
The 6'3" outside hitter graduated from the program in Dec. 2024. She was named the 2024 Conference USA Alyssa Cavanaugh Player of the Year and an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention. Her two seasons as a six-rotation player were invaluable to the 'Tops, as she totaled 813 kills, 612 digs, 122 blocks, and 84 aces. Her rookie campaign is proving to be just as impactful for the Fury. Â
Matthews has spent her professional career overseas. After playing her rookie season in 2023 for Nakhon Ratchasima Qmin C VC in Thailand, she moved on to play for FC Porto in Portugal, where her team won the First Division National Championship in 2024. She now plays for RC Cannes, a club in France, marking her third pro season campaign. Â
The middle hitter out of Indianapolis accumulated numerous accolades over her five seasons at WKU. CUSA Michael L. Silve Female Athlete of the Year, CUSA Alyssa Cavanaugh Player of the Year, and AVCA Second Team All-American, are just a few. Her time at WKU has set her up for a fruitful professional career. Â
Gomez was a middle blocker for WKU from 2015-2018, earning multiple honors throughout her four seasons. 2x AVCA Honorable Mention All-American, 3x First Team All-Conference USA are just a few of the numerous accolades she accumulated throughout her time at WKU. Gomez began her professional career overseas with VC Neuweid 77 in Germany from 2020-2022. The Sturgis, Michigan native is currently playing her third season for VC Wiesbaden in Germany. Â
Otec is an assistant coach and recruiting director for Hilltopper Volleyball, a role she began in 2023. Otec made her professional debut in 2025 with the Grand Rapids Rise alongside Briggs-Romine. Over 12 sets, the libero totals 31 digs and seven assists so far this season. The Purdue alum ('21) was huge for the Boilers back row during her collegiate career, and totaled 1,662 career digs, 3.6 digs per set, 130 aces, and 232 assists. Â
