December 10, 2025

After battling injuries, Ferris State volleyball player Lyndsey Urick is a key contributor on team headed to Elite Eight

For much of the past year, Ferris State volleyball player Lyndsey Urick watched from the sidelines, studying closely and learning as she worked her way through injuries.

Today, the sophomore from Plainfield, Illinois, is a pivotal contributor on a Bulldogs squad bound for the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Division II National Tournament. Ferris State enters as the No. 8 seed and will face top-seeded University of Tampa at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, in the national quarterfinals in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

"I believe everything happens for a reason," said Urick, who did not compete as a true freshman in 2023 before appearing in six matches in 2024 as a redshirt freshman. "I felt like when I came in, I knew I had to work my way up. I felt like I had the potential, but it wasn't there yet. I knew there was a lot that I still had to learn about playing college volleyball."

This season, Urick has appeared in 22 matches, recording 55 kills and 29 total blocks, including 11 solos. She delivered one of her strongest performances during the 2025 NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship, earning a place on the All-Tournament Team alongside outside hitters Gabby Piazza and Logyn Geren, and setter Hayley Wegener.

Urick, an Elementary Education major, credits her teammates for guiding her through her recovery and preparing her to contribute.

"I was constantly observing my teammates and asking a bunch of questions," she said. "Being involved with everything that was happening helped me a lot as I was working through my injuries. I got to see the other side of things as I was learning volleyball. It helped me learn a lot more."

Before coming to the United States, also lived in Germany growing up. Now standing 6-foot-5, she recalls that being taller than most of her peers wasn’t always easy—but it ultimately shaped her confidence and resilience.

"It wasn't always easy. It has taken me a long time to become confident with who I am," Urick said. "When I was younger, I was really insecure – like in middle school. Everyone was shorter than me, like all the boys, too. I had to learn to love myself and my height. It definitely helped that I played sports, and I had opportunities to use my height to do what I enjoyed."

Urick graduated from high school in Wiesbaden, Germany, where she also excelled in basketball and softball.

Her injury last year gave her a unique advantage as she absorbed knowledge from a senior-heavy team that went undefeated in the regular season and advanced to the Elite Eight.

"Last year really helped us. Last season set the stage for what we've been able to do this year," Urick said. "We were practicing every day against the No. 1 team in the nation. We knew we were also a big part of what was happening last year. We've used those experiences to help make us and the program continue to play well coming into this season."

Now, Urick and the Bulldogs are eager for another chance on the national stage.

"We've worked so hard for this, and we've had a clear goal since last spring,” she said. “We would sit in meetings and talk about how badly we wanted it. We're just so happy that we get to go back and fight for the trophy."