Volleyball Welcomes Transfers Ames and Dalton
12/23/2025 12:00:00 PM | Volleyball
OMAHA, Neb. -- The Creighton Volleyball program has had three different transfers earn All-America honors in the past two seasons and are hoping for more in the years to come with the additions of middle hitter Ayden Ames (Texas) and setter Katie Dalton (Kansas).Â
"We are so excited to welcome two incredible additions to our Bluejay family," said head coach Brian Rosen. "Not only do they bring in high-level NCAA Tournament experience, but they are also committed to being culture-first teammates who want to make a positive impact on our community. Creighton fans are going to love Ayden and Katie!"
Ames is a 6-foot-4 middle hitter from Prosper, Texas, who has spent the previous two seasons at the University of Texas. She led the Longhorns'Â Elite Eight team with 109 blocks in 2025, when she averaged 1.52 kills and 1.11 blocks per set on .368 hitting in 98 sets. That came after she averaged 1.56 kills and 0.92 blocks per set on .359 hitting in 96 sets as a true freshman for the two-time defending national champions in 2024 to earn AVCA Southwest Region Freshman of the Year recognition.
Ames had four kills and five blocks in the Longhorns' 3-0 win vs. Creighton on Aug. 29, 2025 and eight kills and two blocks on .538 hitting in UT's 3-1 loss to Creighton on Dec. 13, 2024.
As a prep at Prosper High School, Ames was named 2023-24 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year, AVCA First Team All-American, Under Armour All-American and was a member of the 2023 USA U19 team that won the FIVB U19 World Championships. She was the No. 3 ranked recruit nationally according to PrepDig and No. 4 per VolleyballMag.
Ames will enroll at Creighton in January and have two years of eligibility remaining.
"Having to scout against Ayden the past two years, our coaching staff was very aware of how good a volleyball player she is, as well as how high her ceiling could be," noted Rosen. "I loved learning more about Ayden as a person during the recruiting process. She is such an incredible culture addition and, during our phone calls and her visit, we could instantly see how our values aligned. On the court, she has the tools to be a featured offensive middle hitter and one of the most dominant blockers in the country."Â
Dalton is a 6-foot-1 setter from Parker, Colo., who earned Second Team All-Big 12 accolades in the recently-completed 2025 campaign. She led a Jayhawk squad that reached the Sweet 16 with 780 assists (8.76 aps.), in addition to 2.27 digs per set, 0.52 kills per set and 0.39 blocks per set. She had nine double-doubles in Big 12 play, including six in a row from Sept. 26-Oct. 10.
Dalton played in 131 sets over 43 matches her first two seasons with the Jayhawks, amassing 276 digs, 117 assists and 19 aces while playing defensive specialist and backing up 2023 Big 12 Setter of the Year Camryn Turner. She redshirted the 2024 season.
A First Team AVCA High School All-America choice in 2021, Dalton won a state title at Chaparral High School in 2018 and won four league titles. Her sister Nicole was a setter at Texas from 2012-16, while another sister Julianna was an outside hitter at Washington State in 2020.
Dalton will complete her undergraduate degree at Kansas this spring and arrive at Creighton this summer. She has one year of eligibility remaining.
"Katie brings in four years of experience at one of the top programs in the country," said Rosen. "Running the show at Kansas this past season, she led her team to a Sweet 16 appearance. She's a complete setter who not only runs a great offense, but can also defend, block, and serve at a very high level. For her last season, Katie has the opportunity to be a leader on-and-off the court, mentor our incredible incoming freshman, and is determined to help us achieve our Final Four goals. She has such a fun personality and is also fiercely competitive."
The additions of Ames and Dalton will help offset the loss of Second Team All-American middle hitter Kiara Reinhardt and Third Team All-American setter Annalea Maeder. Creighton is one of four schools nationally (Arizona State, Creighton, Pittsburgh and SMU) with transfers to earn All-America accolades at both middle hitter (Elise Goetzinger) and setter (Annalea Maeder) at some point during the past two seasons.
Creighton finished the 2025 season with a 28-6 record, appearing in its 14th straight NCAA Tournament, winning its 12th consecutive BIG EAST regular-season title, earning sixth BIG EAST Tournament title in a row and reaching its second straight Elite Eight.
"We are so excited to welcome two incredible additions to our Bluejay family," said head coach Brian Rosen. "Not only do they bring in high-level NCAA Tournament experience, but they are also committed to being culture-first teammates who want to make a positive impact on our community. Creighton fans are going to love Ayden and Katie!"
Ames is a 6-foot-4 middle hitter from Prosper, Texas, who has spent the previous two seasons at the University of Texas. She led the Longhorns'Â Elite Eight team with 109 blocks in 2025, when she averaged 1.52 kills and 1.11 blocks per set on .368 hitting in 98 sets. That came after she averaged 1.56 kills and 0.92 blocks per set on .359 hitting in 96 sets as a true freshman for the two-time defending national champions in 2024 to earn AVCA Southwest Region Freshman of the Year recognition.
Ames had four kills and five blocks in the Longhorns' 3-0 win vs. Creighton on Aug. 29, 2025 and eight kills and two blocks on .538 hitting in UT's 3-1 loss to Creighton on Dec. 13, 2024.
As a prep at Prosper High School, Ames was named 2023-24 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year, AVCA First Team All-American, Under Armour All-American and was a member of the 2023 USA U19 team that won the FIVB U19 World Championships. She was the No. 3 ranked recruit nationally according to PrepDig and No. 4 per VolleyballMag.
Ames will enroll at Creighton in January and have two years of eligibility remaining.
"Having to scout against Ayden the past two years, our coaching staff was very aware of how good a volleyball player she is, as well as how high her ceiling could be," noted Rosen. "I loved learning more about Ayden as a person during the recruiting process. She is such an incredible culture addition and, during our phone calls and her visit, we could instantly see how our values aligned. On the court, she has the tools to be a featured offensive middle hitter and one of the most dominant blockers in the country."Â
Dalton is a 6-foot-1 setter from Parker, Colo., who earned Second Team All-Big 12 accolades in the recently-completed 2025 campaign. She led a Jayhawk squad that reached the Sweet 16 with 780 assists (8.76 aps.), in addition to 2.27 digs per set, 0.52 kills per set and 0.39 blocks per set. She had nine double-doubles in Big 12 play, including six in a row from Sept. 26-Oct. 10.
Dalton played in 131 sets over 43 matches her first two seasons with the Jayhawks, amassing 276 digs, 117 assists and 19 aces while playing defensive specialist and backing up 2023 Big 12 Setter of the Year Camryn Turner. She redshirted the 2024 season.
A First Team AVCA High School All-America choice in 2021, Dalton won a state title at Chaparral High School in 2018 and won four league titles. Her sister Nicole was a setter at Texas from 2012-16, while another sister Julianna was an outside hitter at Washington State in 2020.
Dalton will complete her undergraduate degree at Kansas this spring and arrive at Creighton this summer. She has one year of eligibility remaining.
"Katie brings in four years of experience at one of the top programs in the country," said Rosen. "Running the show at Kansas this past season, she led her team to a Sweet 16 appearance. She's a complete setter who not only runs a great offense, but can also defend, block, and serve at a very high level. For her last season, Katie has the opportunity to be a leader on-and-off the court, mentor our incredible incoming freshman, and is determined to help us achieve our Final Four goals. She has such a fun personality and is also fiercely competitive."
The additions of Ames and Dalton will help offset the loss of Second Team All-American middle hitter Kiara Reinhardt and Third Team All-American setter Annalea Maeder. Creighton is one of four schools nationally (Arizona State, Creighton, Pittsburgh and SMU) with transfers to earn All-America accolades at both middle hitter (Elise Goetzinger) and setter (Annalea Maeder) at some point during the past two seasons.
Creighton finished the 2025 season with a 28-6 record, appearing in its 14th straight NCAA Tournament, winning its 12th consecutive BIG EAST regular-season title, earning sixth BIG EAST Tournament title in a row and reaching its second straight Elite Eight.
Players Mentioned
Creighton vs. Kentucky Volleyball Press Conference - 12/13/25
Sunday, December 14
Creighton Volleyball NCAA Tournament Highlights vs. Kentucky, 12/13/25
Saturday, December 13
Kentucky Volleyball Media Availability - 12/12/25
Friday, December 12
Arizona State Volleyball Press Conference After Creighton Match - 12/11/25
Thursday, December 11
