Texas A&M junior setter Stephanie Aiple will forego her senior season of volleyball due to chronic back pain she has suffered since high school, the school announced Tuesday.

Aiple, who was named the team’s co-MVP in 2016, leaves A&M as one of the most decorated players in program history.

“I love playing volleyball, and I am so glad I decided to play for Texas A&M,” Aiple said. “It was all worth it for me because I was so happy and loved what I was doing, but I was in so much pain and I just can’t put myself through another year of hurting so much. It was a really tough decision because volleyball has been a part of my family for so many years, but after long conversations we decided as a family that it was best for me and my body to not play anymore.”

Aiple served as the team’s setter for each of her three seasons on campus and compiled 3,413 assists, fifth-most in school history. The Round Rock native was honored as the SEC Player of the Year in 2015 and played a pivotal role in leading the Aggies to their first SEC championship.

“On behalf of Texas A&M volleyball, we want to thank Stephanie for the three years in which she shared her amazing talent with us,” said head coach Laurie Corbelli. “We wish her well in all her future endeavors and hope that everything she dreams for comes true.”

Aiple is a recreation, park and tourism sciences major and wants to be an event coordinator after she graduates in May 2018.

“I want to thank my parents and all my friends, whether they were friends in volleyball or friends outside of volleyball, who consistently supported me,” Aiple concluded. “I also want to thank all my coaches, from my club coach when I was 11 years old to my college coaches, Laurie Corbelli and John [Corbelli], Steve [Greene] and Trevor [Johnson]. They made my experience so awesome here at Texas A&M.”