BALTIMORE, Md. (Nov. 6, 2026)--When the Morgan State volleyball team takes the floor at Delaware State's Memorial Hall for tonight's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) match, an opportunity at second place will be on the line. For Morgan State sophomore defensive specialist, Kira DeVrieze, the trip to Dover, Del., will have an added special meaning, as it will mark the first time she returns to Delaware State as a member of the Bears.

A native of Chapel Hill, N.C, DeVrieze spent her freshman campaign with the Hornets.
 
"I'm definitely excited. This is a special moment for me, and I don't think it has fully hit me yet," said DeVrieze. "I think once I step foot back into Memorial Hall and see everything again, all the memories and emotions will come back. I'm just grateful for the opportunity to return and compete."
 
"I'm looking forward to seeing familiar faces, being back around an environment that I'm familiar with, and getting to compete in front of the fans again."
 
In her lone season at Delaware State, DeVrieze totaled 49 digs, 14 assists, six service aces and a kill in 70 sets played. She recorded a season-high nine digs at Morgan State. Of the court, she was on the fall semester Dean's List and the spring semester President's List.
 
"One of the biggest things that attracted me to Delaware State was the opportunity to grow both on and off the court. I also liked the environment and the relationships I was able to build with the coaching staff and players. It felt like a place where I could develop as a player and as a person. My coach had a connection to North Carolina so it felt right at the time.

But following her freshman year, DeVrieze decided it was time for a change of scenery and began looking at where her next stop would be. She made the decision to transfer to Morgan State to continue her collegiate career without even seeing the campus in person. She credits Morgan State head coach Xiomara Ortiz and assistant coach Henry Yip as playing a part in why she selected the National Treasure.
 
"Honestly, it was the coaches. I didn't even get the chance to see the campus in person before making my decision," said DeVrieze. Both Zee and Henry are so invested in building something strong here, and I was really drawn to their knowledge of the game and their vision for the program. I felt like being coached by them could really benefit my development and my play, and that played a huge role in my decision to come to Morgan."
 
"Kira's such a sweet girl who just has a chip on her shoulder. She's really done great things for us and she's been a consistent role player," said Ortiz. "She has demonstrated just how being a good teammate can push others and encourage others and make people better. She's added to our defense and serve receive and is ready to go no matter where I choose to put her. She really has been truly accepting of any role and I've appreciated that."

Added Ortiz, "She's really self-aware, she just wants to be better for the team and wants to be better for herself and I think we've tried to encourage her confidence to just step on the court and be her bubbly, dancy, lively self because I know she can be like a sniper. Unfortunately, I don't think she had the best experience over at Delaware State, but we lucked out. We were able to find the treasure within her. And I think she's been getting better and better as she has been growing here every day."
 
In her first season at Morgan State, DeVrieze has totaled 67 digs, 14 service aces, six assists and is hitting .400 with two kills in 61 sets played. She matched her career-high of nine digs this season against UNC Asheville (9/19) at the Bobcat Invitational hosted by Ohio University. She then set a career high with four service aces in the MEAC opener at Norfolk State (9/25).
 
While there will be plenty of emotions prior to and during the match, DeVrieze is looking forward to enjoying her return to Delaware State but is also aware of what's at stake for Morgan State.
 
"It would mean a lot. Being able to come back, get a win, sweep the season series, and help Morgan State move into second place would make the moment even more special," said DeVrieze. "At the end of the day, my focus is on doing whatever I can to help my team win. It would be a great feeling to accomplish that in a place that means so much to me."
 
 
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master's degree, doctorate and certificate programs. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.