HAMILTON – Head coach
Ryan Baker adds five first years to the 2026-27 upcoming season. The newcomers range from three different states and one international student from Canada.
"Our coaching staff is very excited about this class for many reasons," said head coach Ryan Baker. "Each of them will raise the level of our team in their position group and create immediate depth and competition. They are all high character individuals who value what our program and institution stand for. Their passion for Colgate and our program will be infectious."
Gabrielle Emch
Libero/DS
Atlanta, GA
Pace Academy
A5 Volleyball Club
Before Colgate
Gabrielle Emch, a 2026 graduate of Pace Academy, was a four-year varsity volleyball player (2022–2025)...she amassed 1,312 career digs, including a career-high 29 digs in the 2025 State Finals, along with 169 career aces and 376 career assists…as a senior, she recorded 409 digs, 139 assists, and 23 aces…a two-time team captain in 2024 and 2025, Gabrielle helped lead Pace to three Georgia 4A State Championships (2022–2024), a State Runner-Up finish in 2025, and four consecutive Region Conference Championships (2022–2025)…her individual honors include AVCA 2nd Team High School All-American (2024), AVCA Honorable Mention High School All-American (2025), AVCA 1st Team Best and Brightest (2025), AVCA Phenom Watch List (2024), three-time GVCA AAAA All-State (2023–2025), three-time 1st Team All-Area (2023–2025), and three-time NHSCA Academic All-American (2023–2025), in addition to the 2025 Coaches' Award… aside from volleyball, Emch was a member of the National Honor Society, she also received the Jim and Lesley Wheeler Scholar Athlete Award (2025) and the Pace Academy Arts Laureate Award (2025), and has served as a Pace Academy Admissions Ambassador, Keeping Pace camp counselor, and chaperone for Night to Shine, a Tim Tebow Foundation event…with the club program, she has competed with A5 Volleyball Club since 2018, helping the team earn a Triple Crown NIT Elite Division Runner-Up finish in 2025.
Why Emch chose Colgate: "I chose Colgate because I wanted an environment where I could not only grow, but excel as a person, student and athlete. I wanted a place that would push me to become a better version of myself while also supporting me through my journey. Moreover, I know that the coaches and trainers at Colgate will make me a stronger volleyball player, but what interested me more was the true character of the team and the truly remarkable young athletes that have left their program, ready for the world. I am beyond excited to join a program with not only amazing athletes, but also amazing people."
Coach Baker on Emch: "Gabby is a fast twitch athlete who will cover a lot of court for us in the backrow. She has competed and played for some of the best high school and club programs in the country. She understands what it takes to play in a high level gym and will be ready for the speed of play because of it. Besides her skill, she brings an infectious positivity and energy to a team. Her personality makes others better."
Stella Labrecque
Middle Blocker
St-Hubert, Quebec, Canada
Cégep Édouard-Montpetit
Before Colgate
Stella Labrecque is a 2026 graduate of Cégep Édouard-Montpetit, where she competes in the RSEQ Quebec U21 Provincial League…during her junior year, she ranked Top 10 in the league in both blocks and service aces, and in her senior season she is leading the league in blocks…in the 2024-25 season, she helped her team earn a runner-up finish at the RSEQ Quebec U21 Provincial League Championships… Labrecque was selected to Team Quebec for the Canadian National Volleyball Championships held in Calgary, Alberta, following her sophomore year (2023-24), and was invited to the Team Canada Volleyball U21 summer training camp after her junior year (2024-25)...in addition to volleyball, she has also competed in soccer.
Why Labrecque chose Colgate: "I chose Colgate University because from the moment I stepped on campus, it immediately felt like home. I was drawn to the close-knit, quiet community, which offers the perfect environment to focus on both academics and athletics. During my recruiting visit, my future teammates and coaches were incredibly welcoming and genuine, making it easy to picture myself as part of the program. Being within five hours of my home in Eastern Canada was also important to me, as it allows my parents to come support me regularly. On top of that, Colgate's reputation as a Top 100 NCAA Division I volleyball program made it an exciting and inspiring place to continue my athletic career."
Coach Baker on Labrecque: "Stella is a great addition to our program. She will add a physicality to our gym that is different. She is strong and explosive off the ground with great length. Her blocking and overall presence will have a large impact on our program. We are excited to watch her development as she has a big ceiling with a huge passion for improvement. "
Reagan Knipling
Setter/RS
Richmond, Texas
Foster High School
Houston Juniors Volleyball
Before Colgate
Reagan Knipling is a 2026 graduate of Foster High School, where she played three years of varsity volleyball (2023–2025)...over her career, she totaled 1,765 assists, 399 kills, 561 digs, 115 aces, and 114 blocks, including 937 assists, 102 kills, 271 digs, 46 aces, and 29 blocks in her senior season. A team captain in 2024 and 2025, Reagan led her team to three consecutive playoff appearances and earned multiple honors, including 2023 District Newcomer of the Year, 2024 First Team All-District, 2025 Setter of the Year, All-Area First Team, and Dickinson All-Tournament Team (2024, 2025). She also received three Heart of the Falcon Awards for leadership and work ethic. Academically, Reagan is a National Honor Society member and has earned three Academic All-District selections, 2025 Academic All-State honors, and recognition as English I, AP U.S. History, and AP Macroeconomics Student of the Year. She participates in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, serves as a YoungLife Senior Leader, and has competed with Houston Juniors Volleyball (2019–2026), where she is a two-time Under Armour Next Camp participant.
Why Knipling chose Colgate: "I was initially drawn to Colgate because of the strong sense of tradition, prestigious academics, and beautiful campus, and after learning about the coaches, team dynamic, and culture in the volleyball program, the decision was easy!"
Coach Baker on Knipling: "Reagan is a high level setter who knows what it takes to win. She has good hands, good size, and a strong IQ for the game. Her club training and work ethic make her college ready. As a setter, you have to be a leader and Reagan has that. I'm excited to work with her."
Charlotte Goldfeder
Opposite Hitter
Rochester, N.Y.
Brighton High School
VolleyFX
Before Colgate
Charlotte Goldfeder is a 2026 graduate of Brighton High School, where she played three years of varsity volleyball (2022-25), serving as team captain in her senior year…over her high school career, she recorded 608 kills, 509 digs, and 141 blocks, including 277 kills and 50 blocks in her senior season…Goldfeder helped lead her team to historic achievements, including Sectional and Regional Championships in 2024 and a trip to the NY State Championship Tournament…individually, she earned Second Team Monroe All-County honors in 2023, First Team Monroe All-County and First Team All Greater Rochester honors in 2024 and 2025, and the NY State Tournament Sportsmanship Award in 2025, in addition to receiving team MVP and Sportsmanship Awards…she also competed in lacrosse and basketball, contributing to the 2024 sectional and regional championship teams…beyond athletics, Charlotte is active in Student Class Council, DECA, Ski Club, and Future Teacher Club, and has earned academic recognition as an AP Scholar and Chemistry Silver Test Tube Award recipient.
Why Goldfeder chose Colgate: "Colgate has always been a school I've been looking at even before I knew I wanted to play volleyball in college. Talking with other schools, I never had the same connection that I have with Coach Ryan and Michelle. I was always excited to keep in touch on phone calls with them, even if we weren't talking about volleyball and the recruiting process. I feel like I have had such a special connection with them and that helped make my decision so much easier. Colgate is also the type of school where you can make so many great connections during college and for your future. I love the tight knit community Colgate has and meeting the girls on the team and seeing how they interact has made me want to be a part of their community."
Coach Baker on Goldfeder: "Charlotte will add great size, a lefty arm, and a big blocking presence to our rightside position. She has a drive to get better and we are excited to start working with her. I can't wait to see what time in our gym and the weight room does for her game because she has the pieces to be very impactful."
Nina Gannon
Middle Blocker
Dallas, Texas
Townview TAG
Untouchables EPA
Before Colgate
Nina Gannon is a 2026 graduate of Townview TAG who played four years of varsity volleyball (2022-26)...over her high school career, she amassed 729 kills and 205 blocks, including a senior season hitting .476 with 235 kills and 75 blocks…she earned numerous individual honors, including District 12-5A Newcomer of the Year (2022), 1st Team All-District (2023), and District 14-5A MVP Middle Blocker (2024, 2025), as well as the 2023 Woodrow Team Offensive Award…Gannon helped her high school team reach the second round of the State 5A Division II playoffs in 2022 and 2023 and the third round in 2024 and 2025…outside of school, she competes with Untouchables EPA (2024-26) in the North Texas Region, earning national recognition including 2022 Girls Junior Nationals 14 American Bronze, 2025 Show Me National Qualifier 17 Liberty Medalists, 2025 Windy City National Qualifier 17 USA Runner-Up, 2026 KC MLK Classic 18 Liberty Champions, and 2026 Las Vegas Classic 18 Club Champions.
Why Gannon chose Colgate: "I chose Colgate because I immediately fell in love when I stepped on campus. The coaching staff and team are so incredibly close-knit, and the town shares that same sense of community. Combined with Colgate's academic rigor, it felt like the perfect place for me."
Coach Baker on Gannon: "We are very excited to add a middle like Nina to our program. She has great length, speed, and instincts as a middle. Each time our staff watches her, her game improves. She's a natural blocker who has an infectious intensity to her play. We are excited to have her in our program."
