Ahead of its second season in 2025, the Pro Volleyball Federation announced its draft class on Monday with Western Kentucky’s Kaylee Cox selected as the second pick in the third round (18th overall) by the Columbus Fury.

Cox’s selection comes off the heels of a campaign that saw Cox named the Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year, the CUSA Player of the Year, a member of First Team All-CUSA, and the CUSA Tournament MVP.

The Texas native also helped the Hilltoppers to their sixth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and 17th in program history as well as their ninth tournament championship and 10th regular-season championship.

“I’m so excited for what’s upcoming,” Cox said in a news release. “I was nervous going into the draft, but I am so thankful to be headed to Columbus. I’ve already had so many people reach out to me and I feel so welcomed already. I’m excited to finish out my season here at WKU knowing that my volleyball career is not over. I am so thankful for my teammates and coaches here at WKU who have prepared me for a moment like this.”

Cox will join the Fury in 2025 after graduating early from WKU later this year. She’s picked up a total of two First Team All-CUSA nods as well as an AVCA All-Region accolade in 2023. In her four-year career – with two years spent at Missouri – Cox has collected a total of 1,455 kills for a .257 hitting percentage and an average of 3.51 kills per set.

At the net, the Texas native has produced 241 total blocks including 72 solo stuffs. As a six-rotation player, she’s claimed a total of 141 service aces and as one of WKU’s primary serve receivers, also has a .954 reception percentage in her two years at WKU.

“I’m just super happy for her,” WKU coach Travis Hudson said in a news release. “Kaylee is a very complete player and absolutely a pro. She’s worked really hard since she stepped on the Hill to get herself to this point and I think she has a great opportunity in Columbus.”

The PVF was founded in 2022 and will expand in the 2025 season with the addition of the Indianapolis Ignite. The Columbus Fury is one of the founding members of the PVF and posted an 8-16 record in 2024.

Cox joins three other Hilltoppers currently playing professional volleyball including Paige Briggs (‘23), who also plays in the PVF for the Grand Rapids Rise, Lauren Matthews (‘22) playing in France, and Rachel Anderson (‘18) playing in Germany.