LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky Volleyball team and head coach Craig Skinner announced Wednesday that the Wildcats have signed three players to a deal, all of whom will join the team this winter for competition next fall.

Setter Kassie O’Brien (Katy, Texas), defensive specialist/libero Trinity Ward (Louisville, Kentucky) and outside hitter Georgia Watson (Huntley, Illinois) all formally agreed to be Kentucky Wildcats on Wednesday.

“This class has great character, great passion and a desire to be great players,” UK head coach Craig Skinner said of his team’s class of 2024. “They are perfect people and athletes to fit into the program! They fill our positions of need and will compete to play right away. We can’t wait to welcome them here to campus in January!”

Kassie O’Brien
Setter
Katie, Texas

Kassie O’Brien joins Kentucky Volleyball from Katy, Texas as a 6’1” setter. O’Brien plays her club volleyball for the 17 Royal team of the Houston Skyline volleyball program, where she has had tremendous success against some of the best players in the country. O’Brien plays her high school volleyball for Cinco Ranch High School, where last season she surpassed 4,000 career assists for the second time in school history and the first time since 2009 and took her team to the 6A state tournament helped.

“Kassie is an elite setter and a complete player at the setter position,” Skinner said. “She is extremely driven and early in the process she asked if she could register early to get a head start on the college game. She can’t wait to be part of this culture and help us compete for championships. Welcome to the BBN, Kassie!”

Trinity District
Defensive Specialist/Libero
Louisville, KY

Continuing Kentucky’s long-standing tradition of elite floor defense, Trinity Ward comes to Kentucky from the KIVA volleyball program in the Louisville, Kentucky area. Ward attends Holy Cross High School in Louisville and says it has always been her dream to play volleyball at Kentucky. In her three years of varsity high school volleyball, she has averaged over 11 digs per match in all three seasons, including over 17 digs per match in her junior season when she recorded 17.6 digs per match in her 100 sets played of the year. She was named Region Player of the Year this season and made Second Team All-State as an outside hitter.

“Trinity is very similar to the long line of talented liberos we’ve had in this program. She has top skills and is a great athlete who plays outside hitter in HS. As a diehard Kentucky fan, we have no doubt she will fight hard for the BBN! She will wear the Blue and White with great pride! Welcome to your favorite school, Trinity!”

Georgia Watson
Outside hitter
Huntley, Illinois

Multi-dimensional weapon Georgia Watson joins Kentucky as a 6’3” outside hitter, where she will continue a long line of success in Kentucky’s high-powered offense. Watson plays her club volleyball at Sky High VBC, where she has had tremendous success as one of the hardest-hitting hitters in the country. Watson plays high school volleyball for Huntley High School, having already helped her team to a section championship this fall and the team breaking a 22-year drought between state championships before 2024 thanks to Watson’s contributions.

“We are happy that Georgia is joining us. She is perhaps one of the hardest hitters in the class of 2025 and has played multiple positions growing up in the game. She will compete on both sides of the net as a point scorer and will certainly add to our firepower in the gym. Welcome to Kentucky, Georgia!”

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