Lily Nicholson We've met our freshman and two of our transfers, now let's get into our final two transfers and our only two seniors. We'll kick things off with senior setter Lily Nicholson who joined this January from Florida State.
Nicholson is a true senior from the recruiting class of 2023. She's played 3 seasons, 2 at TCU, then last year at Florida State. Nicholson was in the same recruiting cycle as Kyndal Stowers and Margot Manning, however the latter two have used a rmedical edshirt year. Nicholson played high school volleyball for McKinney North where she was teammates with freshman Gabi Rodriguez for a year and coached by Rodriguez's mother Libby Rodriguez. As a 4 year letterman, Nicholson amassed over 3000 assists and helped pave the way for a new standard at McKinney North. She would go on to earn multiple all state teams and in her senior year she was an AVCA First Team All American. Despite the all american status, she was the 95th best recruit in Texas. She'd go on and commit to first year coach Jason Williams at TCU becoming one of his first high school commitments. She's commit towards the end of her junior year. On the club scene she'd play for Drive Nation where she saw lots of success and played with many other power 4 commits. Nicholson's older sister Paige played 4 years at Oklahoma.
Her first season at TCU, she would see the court a tiny bit early on but she was behind Mizzou transfer setter Riley Buckley. After Buckley medically retired towards the end of the season, Nicholson would take over the setting responsibilities as a freshman. She would ease into the roll and collect over 600 assists as a freshman as TCU would make the tournament. Nicholson would have 46 assists in their first round game in a win against, ironically, Florida State. They'd fall in the second round, but it was clear Nicholson established herself as TCU's setter.
With Nicholson having some experience under her belt and some strong returners, TCU would improve their win total and get back into the tournament. Nicholson at setter formed a strong relationship with dynamic hitter Melanie Parra who'd go on to earn first team All American honors. Nicholson would surpass 1000 assists and average just under 10 assists per set. TCU would unfortunately fall in the second round again.
Nicholson would enter the portal after 2 seasons and transfer to Florida State. Florida State would pick up multiple setters in the transfer portal and would go on to run a 6-2 system that involves 2 setters rotating every 3 rotations in the back row only. She's split reps and pick up 594 assists at 5.08 assists per set. Florida State would not make the tournament. Nicholson would start her spring semester at Florida State but soon after it began, Florida State coach Chris Poole would announce his retirement. Nicholson would then enter the portal hoping to land somewhere before registration would end for the spring semester.
On January 23rd, Nicholson would announce her signing to the reigning national champions. She would enroll possibly before that, just before the deadline for spring semester enrollment. She'd quickly move to College Station, begin classes, and get into the practice gym. For the last two season's the Aggies were led at setter by Maddie Waak. Waak led a versatile and dynamic offense with her quick setting and quick and smart decision making. Waak spent her first two seasons at LSU, but really elevated her game here at Texas A&M. She's set A&M to a national championship where in said tournament, opposing teams were puzzled and frustrated having to defend Waak and her hitters all over the court.
Moving on from all american setter Maddie Waak, the Aggies would return two setters in Margot Manning and Kirra Musgrove. In 2024, Manning would play behind Waak and serve as a serving substitute, but this past season she would injure herself preseason and miss the entirety of the 2025 season with a leg injury. A freshman, Musgrove came in as a 5 star recruit and would come in as a blocking sub for Waak in some matches. With Manning and Musgrove in the setting room, it was unsure if the Aggies were set at the position or if they would add another. Both are capable of running our offense. It seemed there wouldn't be any additions after the portal window, but due to the coaching change at FSU, the Aggies were able to add Nicholson. It seemed Morrison and co would only go after a setter if the fit was right. Being selective they would go on to add Nicholson to its roster and get her here to compete for the job and develop some chemistry with her new hitters.
Nicholson would impress in the spring. Her experience at the college level was evident and her leadership and quick thinking would be put on display. She's get reps with 1's as did Manning and Musgrove. Some argue that Nicholson separated herself from the other setters, although the competition will most likely continue into this summer and into fall camp. We've seen the past few seasons, that Morrison loves to run an up tempo offense that spreads the ball around to all its hitters. Nicholson is also a great passer as well. That versatility is something Morrison loves in his players.
Waak had a plethora of weapons to work with like Lednicky, Cos-Okpalla, Perkins, Stowers, and Hellmuth. Nicholson will bring back the tournament mvp in Kyndal Stowers, one of the best hitters in the country. Just like she set to Parra at TCU, having Stowers on your outside will make things easy for any setter. The Aggies added another all american in Natalie Ring (who I'll cover next), a couple new freshman and middle blockers and return hitters like Taryn Morris, Megan Fitch, and Amare Hernandez. These are some excellent weapons, but one thing that will be hard to replace is the timing and chemistry that Waak had with her weapons.
Whether it's Nicholson or another setter, or perhaps we run a 6-2 offense and use multiple setters, the most important thing is our setters developing on court chemistry with our hitters. That timing and chemistry will grow as the season goes on and us being thrown into the fire with an extremely hard non conference schedule will test us early. If Nicholson wins the job I believe she can be a great asset and leader for us. Waak was setting for a non tournament in LSU, then led A&M to a sweet sixteen the next year and a national championship in the next. Nicholson is comfortable running an up tempo offense. I'm really interested how this position battle breaks out. I have faith in all of them, but more importantly in our coaching staff.
Filling Waak's shoes may be difficult, but I'm excited to see who steps up. Nicholson wanted to find a home closer to home for her last year of eligibility (maybe 2 years if the 5 in 5 rule passes). She'd come back home to Texas, join the reigning national champions and get straight to work. By all accounts she's a great teammate, a great leader, and an even greater person. This year she will wear the number 12, which means something. I know she will represent that number and this team very well.
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