LEXINGTON, Ky. — Morgan Gaerte's transition to the right side of the net for Kentucky volleyball is bearing fruit, with the Notre Dame transfer finding rhythm both offensively and defensively over her last three matches.

The junior posted 17 kills and a .382 hitting percentage in Wednesday's victory over No. 18 North Carolina, establishing a season high on the offensive end. She also recorded a career-high 11 digs while playing all six rotations, surpassing her previous best of 10 set while at Notre Dame.

Gaerte's hot stretch included a sweep of UCLA last week, where she posted 16 kills with a .364 hitting percentage, and a four-set win over No. 13 Penn State at Wrigley Field with 14 kills and a .344 hitting percentage.

Gaerte transferred to Kentucky after earning First Team All-ACC honors and AVCA All-America honorable mention selection in 2025 at Notre Dame, where she posted a school-record 497 kills as a sophomore. The 6-foot-5 outside hitter was tasked with helping the Wildcats fill the void left by former All-American Eva Hudson's graduation.

Gaerte credits her teammates, particularly setter Kassie O'Brien, for easing her transition to a new position and system. "I think Kassie has made it really easy for me," Gaerte said. "After each set, I tell her what I need and she fixes it."

Head coach Craig Skinner highlighted the strategic advantage of having Gaerte capable of playing all six rotations. "If you're attacking three or four zones at once, then there's three blockers on the other side of the net, they have to pick and choose," Skinner said. "To have four or five attackers all the time is special."

Gaerte is among four Wildcats on the AVCA National Player of the Year Watch List, joining Brooklyn DeLeye, Kassie O'Brien and Molly Tuozzo, giving Kentucky more players on that exclusive list than any other school in the nation.