Reagan Cooper, the standout outside hitter who shone throughout her final season of collegiate volleyball at Kansas, was selected in the Pro Volleyball Federation’s inaugural draft on Monday.
She was picked No. 14 overall, with the final pick of the second round, by the Columbus Fury.
The seven-team league with franchises in Atlanta; Columbus, Ohio; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Omaha, Nebraska; Orlando, Florida; San Diego; and Las Vegas opens its first season of play on Jan. 24.
Cooper, a graduate transfer from Big 12 Conference rival Texas Tech, was selected first-team All-Midwest Region by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. She averaged a team-high 3.86 kills per set while hitting .346, and put up a memorable 29-kill performance in the five-set loss to Penn State that ended the Jayhawks’ season on Dec. 1.
She had begun her career at Washington State before spending two seasons at Tech. Joining KU reunited her with her former Wazzu teammate Mykayla Myers, who had also come to Lawrence after a stint at a Big 12 school (in her case, TCU).
“I’m really proud of this team,” Cooper said after the NCAA Tournament loss to Penn State. “And I’m really happy that I made the decision to come here (for my last year). I really have no regrets.”
The Pro Volleyball Federation promotes itself as “REAL pro volleyball and the premier women’s professional volleyball league in North America,” emphasizing that it pays players a living wage and operates out of major venues in its markets.
The Columbus team, which will play at Nationwide Arena, the home of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, is owned by the family of Jeff and Beth Gilger. It will be coached by former Puerto Rican international player Ángel Pérez and includes professional talent such as Jenna Rosenthal and Megan Courtney. The Fury also made Texas middle blocker Asjia O’Neal the No. 1 overall pick in Monday’s draft before selecting Cooper.
The league is expected to add three more teams in 2025, including a Kansas City squad owned by KU benefactors Kent and Missy McCarthy.
Chance Parker/Journal-World photo
