Volleyball 2025 Preview: Transfers

ORLANDO - An already established returning group will be complemented with an exciting group of transfers. Headlined by a pair of former Eagles who will join head coach Matt Botsford in Orlando, each will make an instant impact for the squad ahead of the 2025 season.

Based on their 2024 stats, the four transfers totaled 1,071 kills, 268 blocks and 1,328 points. Northwestern State's Reaghan Thompson and Orlando native Fallon Stewart (Cincinnati) will be among five outside hitters on the roster.

Today is the second of three previews for the upcoming season (returners preview yesterday), each highlighting a different group within the squad. Here are the four Knights who will be making their debuts in Black and Gold:

#5 Fallon Stewart | OH | So. | Winter Park, Florida | Cincinnati

After one of the more productive freshman campaigns in the Big 12 a season ago at Cincinnati, Stewart will return home. The Winter Park native had a prolific career in high school, being named a finalist for the Florida Volleyball Gatorade Player of the Year for a dominating senior campaign.

In her first collegiate season with the Bearcats, she appeared in all 29 matches and concluded the season with an even 200 kills. A career-match against Xavier included 16 kills and 16.5 points. One of four incoming outside hitters, Stewart will complement Armour and a group of talented attacking threats.

#8 Ella Chapman | MB | Jr. | Grennsburg, Indiana | FGCU

The first of two former Eagles who made the jump with Botsford to Orlando, Chapman enjoyed a brilliant sophomore campaign in 2024. Building upon a strong debut campaign, which saw her named Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year, the Indiana native tallied 167 kills to complement a dominating 116 total blocks on the net.

Chapman averaged more than a block per set (1.02) while pacing her team in each blocking category. She was tabbed to the Third Team All-Atlantic Sun for the second consecutive season and was a marquee piece for an FGCU squad that advanced to the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight campaign.

#14 Reaghan Thompson | OH | Sr. | Kemah, Texas | Northwestern State

One of the premier players in the Southland Conference over the past three years with Northwestern State, Thompson will join her former head coach Sean Kiracofe, who will serve as an assistant with the Knights.

After playing as a middle blocker in her first two collegiate campaigns, the Texas native shifted to outside hitter in 2024 and didn’t miss a step, leading the Demons in kills with 312. Combining her talents across the court, Thompson was the only player in the conference to rank among the top 10 in kills per set (3.51), points per set (4.08) and digs per set (3.29).

She totaled 13 double-doubles, including four in her first five matches of the season, and dominated with six straight to conclude conference play. While her block tally decreased in 2024 due to her position change, she will remain among the top of the active leader list with 367 throughout her career.

#18 Skylar English | OH | 5th | Naples, Florida | FGCU

Throughout a dominating four-year stretch for Botsford and the Eagles, English was at the forefront of their display that claimed a combined seven Atlantic Sun regular season and tournament titles, along with four trips to the NCAA tournament.

Her career totals are highlighted by 916 kills (2.54 per set), 172 service aces, 603 digs and 224 total blocks. In 2024, she ranked second in the NCAA with 0.64 aces per set and third with 75 aces. On the biggest stages, English stepped up, securing the Atlantic Sun Championship Most Valuable Player award after securing 39 total kills in the tournament and a double-double in the semifinal against Eastern Kentucky.

She became the sixth player in program history to finish with over 500 points in a season (5-9.5) and features across the record books. The Naples native will be one of the premier transfers in the Big 12 and will look to form a strong connection with Thompson, Stewart and the returning Armour.

SINGLE GAME AND SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
UCF volleyball single-match and season tickets are on sale now. Be sure to catch all the action starting Aug. 29 as the Knights return to action. Tickets can be purchased online at ucfknights.com/tickets or by calling the ticket office at (407) 823-1000.

ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program, representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.