Michelle Aquino may be the voice behind every Georgia College & State University women’s volleyball broadcast; however, her story of how she became a voice of the Bobcats is a long and winding road, tracing back to her playing days.  

Before her stint at Davidson College in North Carolina, she competed for TOPSELECT Volleyball Academy, was later named the MVP for the 2011 season and was selected to the All-Star South team. Aquino was called to a multitude of athletic and academic teams and awards even before her time as a Wildcat at Davidson College.

Aquino’s junior year in 2014 was her best in her collegiate career, playing in 82 sets and accumulating 120 kills, 47 digs and an impressive 51 blocks. The opposite hitter also collected seven aces in her 2014 stint. 

“When I ended my time playing there after four years, I wasn’t necessarily ready to give up the sport yet,” Aquino said. 

Gretchen Krumdieck became the Bobcats’ volleyball program’s first head coach, spending nine years in Milledgeville and helped GCSU set multiple firsts in program history, such as an appearance in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament. However, before her time as a Bobcat, Krumdieck served as the assistant coach for Davidson College’s volleyball squad.

“She had actually recruited me to play at Davidson, and then she left Davidson to come start the volleyball program here,” Aquino said. “That was kind of the best decision I ever made, coming to Milledgeville and still be able to be around the sport because of the great student athlete experience.”

Following her time at Davidson College, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Aquino later became an assistant volleyball coach, assisting Krumdieck while completing post-baccalaureate courses in mass communication at GCSU. 

“It was cool to see the other side of athletics,” Aquino said. “When you’re a student athlete, you walk in, and your jerseys are hanging up, all the buses are ready to go, your hotels are booked, everything is there for you. But when I moved to the coach’s side, it showed me all the behind-the-scenes stuff that goes on.”

Following that, she became a graduate assistant, assisting with NCAA compliance, game-day operations and student-athlete development, while also supporting Athletics Director Wendell Staton with various projects within the athletic department. 

Aquino spent a handful of years at both Belmont Abbey College as an Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator and the University of North Georgia as an Associate Athletic Director, Business and Senior Woman Administrator. 

It would not be until Aug. of 2023 that she made her return to Milledgeville, this time as the Director of Annual Giving & Digital Engagement, and made her first appearance on a women’s volleyball broadcast.

“There was an opportunity, the broadcaster at the time was on maternity leave, and so I was just kind of helping Wendell out, and it really surprised me how much I enjoyed it,” Aquino said. “Being able to be around the sport and just being able to bring the sport to other fans, family members and parents who are watching it.”

Besides her time on air for the Bobcat women’s volleyball team, she’s working for the GCSU Foundation, helping the Bobcats’ athletic department fundraise non-profitly, and working with everything in the realm of athletic state of giving. Aquino assisted with the Bobcats’ alumni days and the recent Hall of Fame induction, as well as other past events, including the Bobcat Bash. 

“It’s a really fun way for me to still be involved,” Aquino said. “As well as to be involved in a way that we can enhance the student athlete experience, still for the student athletes. It comes full circle for me, in a way, that even though I’m no longer directly working in athletics, it still provides me with an opportunity to help serve and promote our student athletes.”

With every broadcast, Aquino’s goal is to teach someone one new thing about volleyball, using the GCSU broadcast as a platform to expand and promote the game to people who may not be familiar with all the different rules and characteristics of the sport.

“I know how proud these parents must be to be able to turn on their TVs and watch their daughters play at a high level,” Aquino said. “To bring them that experience and hopefully be a voice of comfort. Being able to bring that broadcast to those who aren’t able to make it here in the gym means a lot.”