Creighton standout Elise Goetzinger to launch pro career with Athletes Unlimited
Elise Goetzinger has spent her career rising to the moment. Now, the Creighton and Kentucky alum will take the next step, beginning her professional journey in the Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball Championship this fall.
The 6-foot-4 middle blocker capped her college career with a stellar 2024 season at Creighton, where she became one of the BIG EAST’s most dominant middle blockers. She earned All-BIG EAST and AVCA All-West Region honors, was named AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, and led the conference in hitting percentage. Her .376 mark set a school record and ranked 37th nationally.
She thrived against top competition, tallying double-digit kills in matches against Nebraska, Louisville, and Purdue while providing the Bluejays a consistent presence at the net. Goetzinger closed the year hitting .150 or better in every contest and helped Creighton secure a trip to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
Before transferring to Creighton, Goetzinger spent four seasons at Kentucky, where she played a pivotal role in the Wildcats’ 2020 NCAA Championship run. She started all five tournament matches that spring, contributing three kills and three blocks on .400 hitting in the title win over Texas. Over her career at Kentucky, she amassed 579 kills and 231 blocks, while collecting All-Tournament Team selections at multiple invitationals.
She ranked second in the SEC while at Kentucky in hitting percentage as a junior and helped the Wildcats secure three consecutive SEC titles. As a graduate transfer at Creighton, she immediately made an impact, posting 10 kills in each of her first two matches and maintaining one of the top hitting efficiencies in the country throughout the season.
Last month, Goetzinger signed her first professional contract with the Omaha Supernovas for the 2026 season. Before joining the team, she will make her professional debut by competing with some of the best players in the world while giving the Omaha crowds a taste of what’s to come when she suits up for AU.
The 2025 AU Pro Volleyball Championship will feature 44 of the world’s top volleyball players in an exclusive, high-stakes tournament to determine the ultimate champion of the sport. These elite athletes, handpicked from the best domestic and international pro leagues, will face off in the nation’s premier volleyball hubs in Omaha, Nebraska, at the Liberty First Credit Union Arena (October 1-15) and in Madison, Wisconsin, at the Alliant Energy Center (October 22 – November 3). Tickets for both locations are now available here.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
