Emory head volleyball coach Jenny McDowell has announced that the following two student athletes will be enrolling at Emory in the fall of 2011 and be competing for the Eagles’ volleyball program.

Leah Jacobs (5-10/Outside Hitter/Linville, VA/Eastern Mennonite) – Enjoyed a fine career at Eastern Mennonite High School where she was coached by Mary Hine … Named the 2010 Virginia Independent School Athletic Association Division II Player of the Year after helping her team to a 29-4-1 record  … Jacobs helped Eastern Mennonite HS to state runner-up finishes in 2009 and 2010 … Totaled 548 kills, 176 total blocks and 405 digs her final campaign … Closed out her career as the school’s all-time leader in both kills (1513) and blocks (477) … She was named to the VISA Division II All-Tournament Team her senior season …Three-time team captain … Garnered three first-team berths on the all-state team … All-conference first team from 2007 through 2010 … 411 terminations and 128 total blocks her junior year … An excellent student who was on the ‘A’ Honor Roll throughout high school … Served as President of the National Honor Society … Plays club volleyball for the U-Turn Sports Performance Academy where she is coached by Don Gresham.

“Leah Jacobs is an unbelievable athlete who is quick off the floor, a great jumper, and someone dynamic in every phase of the game,” McDowell stated.  “Leah has the potential to one of the finest outside hitters to ever come through our program.   It will be fun to watch her train alongside our two current All-American outsider hitters in Amelia McCall and Jessica McAlvany.  Leah is going to do amazing things in an Emory uniform and I know our fans are going to love watching her play.”

Hannah Everett (6-0/Middle Hitter/Rossville, TN/St. George’s Independent School) – Four-year member of the volleyball program at St. George’s Independent School where she played for head coach Kellie Hanlon … Named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association 2010-11 Under Armour Honorable Mention All-America Team after helping her  team to a 43-6 record that included a TSSAA Division 2-A state championship where she was named MVP … Also named MVP of the regional tournament  … Recorded 476 kills, 282 digs and 95 service aces her senior season … Captured Division II All-State honors as selected by the Tennessee Sportswriters Association … Selected to play in the West A-AA TACA Volleyball All-Star Game … Was selected as her team’s Offensive Player of the Year on three occasions … All-region first-team honors in 2009 and 2010 … During her junior campaign, she chalked up 444 kills, 68 blocks and 123 aces in helping the Lady Gryphons to a 33-12-1 won-lost slate … Academically, she is a member of the National Honor Society, National Latin Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society and National English Honor Society … Plays club volleyball for the Sting Training Academy where she is coached by McKenzie Byrd, Penny Lucas-White and Laura Riley.

“We are so fortunate that Hannah chose Emory,” McDowell said.  “She is a big time player with unlimited potential.  I’m eager to to see all that she will be able to accomplish in an Emory uniform.  Hannah is one the finest middle blockers in the nation but what sets her apart from the rest is her back row play.  She can do it all and we plan to use her as a 6 rotation player.  And as much as we think of her as a volleyball player, she is an even greater person.”

Jacobs and Everett will join Cat McGrath (St. Louis, MO), Dana Holt (Moraga, CA), Cami Silverman (Bellevue, WA), Camden Spade (Raleigh, NC), Olivia Volarich (St. Louis, MO) and Kate Bowman (Corpus Christi, TX) as newcomers to Emory in the fall.

“We are incredibly excited about our 2011 recruiting -- they are the future of our program and I am confident this class will keep us at the top and help us bring home more national championships,” McDowell summarized.  “This outstanding class is a direct reflection of assistant coach Justin Hart’s hard work, commitment, and dedication to our recruiting efforts.  He has proven that he is one of the finest recruiters in the country.”