HBCU Community Mourns Loss of Livingstone College Volleyball Player Kendall Cook, 19

The HBCU athletics family is mourning the loss of Kendall Cook, a 19-year-old volleyball player at Livingstone College, whose passing has left communities across North Carolina, Kentucky, and the volleyball world in grief.

Cook, a 2025 graduate of Frankfort High School in Kentucky, was an outside hitter and middle blocker who began her collegiate career at Clark Atlanta University before transferring to Livingstone College. Her cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.

Frankfort Independent Schools confirmed Cook's passing this week, with Superintendent Sheri Satterly offering heartfelt words about the young athlete who touched so many lives.

"A beautiful, talented soul. A joy to know and be around whether she was in the classroom or on the court."

An Impact Beyond the Court

Cook's athletic journey showcased her versatility and competitive spirit.

The loss resonates particularly within the HBCU athletics community, where Cook had found her home at Livingstone College. For the Blue Bears volleyball program and the broader HBCU family, this tragedy serves as a painful reminder that student-athletes are more than names on a roster—they are daughters, friends, classmates, and teammates whose presence enriches campus life.

Support for the Community

In response to this devastating loss, Frankfort Independent Schools has taken steps to support those affected:

• Grief counselors will be made available to students
• Mental health resources are being provided to members of Cook's graduating class
• The district has extended condolences to her family, friends, and classmates

The entire HBCU community extends its deepest condolences to Cook's family, her teammates at Livingstone College, the Clark Atlanta University community, and everyone in Frankfort whose lives she touched during her brief but impactful journey.

Originally reported by HBCU Gameday.