GISLAVED, Sweden – Former setter on the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball team,
Belle Morgan, is extending her professional career to Europe as she signed with Gislaved VBK for the 2024-25 season in Sweden.
Morgan completed her final year of eligibility for the Islanders in 2023 after spending four seasons at Villanova. Following a successful graduate year on the Island, Morgan signed her first professional contract with Valencianas de Juncos LVSF in Puerto Rico where she played this past Spring. She will now head overseas to Sweden to compete September-May in the Women's Eliteserien league.
"I am so excited to be playing in Sweden this season!" said Morgan. "Sweden is an amazing country with a competitive volleyball league, and I can't wait to continue my career there. Islanders Volleyball has helped me achieve more than I thought was possible, and I want to say a huge thanks to them and especially [head coach]
Steve Greene for all of their support."
In Puerto Rico, Morgan led the team to 11 wins in the regular season and went on to the semifinals of the playoffs before dropping to the eventual league champions to finish 3
rd in the league. It was a major improvement from the previous season when the squad ended fifth after falling in the first round of playoffs.
Morgan began her professional career after making her mark in her only year as an Islander, being named the 2023 SLC Setter of the Year. She finished the season leading the conference in assists per set (12.24) and total assists (722) after running the most efficient offense in the league to a .291 clip. She also led the team to be first in the league in kills per set at 15.51.
The five-time SLC Setter of the Week was the match leader in assists in 17 of the conference matches this year. Additionally, she led all setters in aces per set (0.41), kills per set (1.10), hitting percentage (.319), and points per set (1.72). This all helped her earn AVCA All-Region honors at the end of the year.
"Belle came to the Island in the summer of 2023 as a graduate transfer and immediately set her mind to becoming the best that she could be," said
Steve Greene, head coach of the A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball team. "I challenged her and she continually surpassed goals and expectations. She improved each and every day with diligent work in the gym, weight room, and watching video. Her efforts garnered her many honors here and she has continued to shine as she spent her first professional season in Puerto Rico last spring. She helped improve her team to a winning record and guided her team in playoffs to the semifinals. Then she was here over the summer working with our Islanders Volleyball camps and sharing her knowledge with our team and future Islanders. I'm so proud of her and excited to see her continue to gain worldly experience and pursue her dreams as she goes to Europe and plays in Sweden this year."
Morgan will compete in the regular season with Gislaved from September-March with playoffs scheduled through April 2025.
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