Emory head volleyball coach Jenny McDowell has announced that the eight following student-athletes will be attending Emory in the fall of 2013 and be competing for the Eagles' program.
"We are extremely excited about our 2013 recruiting class," McDowell said. "These young women bring a wealth of experience, skill, and knowledge of the game to our program. Not only are they great students and players, but they are fantastic people that understand the special culture and tradition of Emory Volleyball. I am confident they are going to accomplish magnificent things during their four years at Emory."
Jessica Holler (MB, 6-1, Roswell, GA/Blessed Trinity HS) -- Enjoyed an excellent prep career at Blessed Trinity High School where she earned four varsity letters … Served as a team co-captain her senior season … Paul Stevens was her high school coach … Captured MaxPreps Third Team All-America honors her final campaign after leading Blessed Trinity to a 54-2 won-lost ledger that included a Class AAA state title … Pounded out 414 kills and hit .413 while recording 236 digs and 110 blocks … Blessed Trinity was ranked No. 1 in the state for the majority of 2012 and was ranked 25th nationally at one point during the season … Was tabbed as the All-Area Player of the Year in 2012 and landed All-State honors as well … Two-time all-area selection … Was a driving force on three teams that brought home area championships … During her junior season, she compiled 247 terminations, hit .352, recorded 68 blocks and doled out 63 service aces … Member of the 2010 AA/A state championship team … 2010 Academic Scholar … Plays club volleyball for A5 where she is coached by Bob Westbrook … Was chosen to the all-tournament team at the 2012 nationals.
Maggie Collins (RS, 6-2, Lawrenceville, GA/Brookwood HS) – Three-year member of the volleyball program at Brookwood High School where she played for coach Brian Welsch … Her final season saw her post 508 kills and 156 total blocks in aiding her squad to the Round of 16 in the Class AAAAA state tournament … 2012 Gwinnett County First Team … 2012 All-Area Most Valuable Player … Member of teams that advanced to the regional finals of the high school state tournament in 2010 and 2011 … During her junior season, she was chosen to the All-Gwinnett County Second Team after amassing 421 kills and 138 blocks in helping the Broncos to 38 wins … Received her team's Game Changer Award in 2011 … Three-time Scholar Athlete at Brookwood HS … Plays club volleyball for GA5 where she is coached by April Carroll.
Ashley Cozart (DS, 5-8, Tampa, FL/H.B. Plant HS) – Played volleyball at H.B. Plant High School for four years where she was coached by Jessica Lamm … Served as her team's captain her senior season … Racked up 185 kills and 166 digs in leading Plant HS to its fourth straight district championship … Was named her squad's MVP this past year and earned conference first-team acclaim … Second Team All-Hillsborough County … Member of the 2009 and 2010 squads that brought home state championships … As a junior she finished with 100 terminations and 153 digs … Member of the softball and track and field teams while at Plant HS … Attended the same school that produced former Eagle All-American Madison Robelen … Plays club volleyball for Tampa Bay One and is coached by Jeff Lamm.
Sheridan Rice (OH, 6-0, Solana Beach, CA/La Jolla Country Day HS) – Four-year letterwinner in volleyball at La Jolla Country Day School where she played for coach Peter Ogle … Two-time team captain … Blasted away for 212 terminations while contributing 198 digs and 67 blocks as a senior … Helped the program to three league and sectional championships … La Jolla Country Day was the CIF California state champ her freshman and sophomore seasons and came away with a runner-up performance in 2011 … First Team All-CIF in 2011 and 2012 … 289 successful attacks and 333 digs as a junior … Also played soccer as a prep … High honor roll member all four years in high school … Plays for the Wave Volleyball Club and has been coached by Jeanne Reeves (16s & 17s) Brent Hilliard (18s) … The Wave was the No. 1-ranked team during the 2010-11 season.
Kathryn Trinka (OH, 6-1, North Bay Village, FL/Ransom Everglades) – Earned four letters as a member of the Ransom Everglades volleyball program … Was coached as a prep by Roger Peluso … Served as team captain her junior and senior seasons … Hammered out 305 kills and recorded 215 digs her final season in helping her team to the semifinals of the Class 4A state tournament, Ransom's first berth in the final four since 1994 … Ransom Everglades closed out the season with a 28-3 record and was ranked among the nation's top 100 high school teams … Was a driving force in leading REHS to a 2012 regional title and berths in the regional championship in 2010 and 2011 … Team MVP as a senior … Three-time selection to the All-Dade County First Team … Closed out her high school career as the program's all-time leader in kills, blocks and service aces … Ransom Everglades retired her jersey upon the completion of her career … 309 terminations and 251 digs her junior campaign … Plays club volleyball for Ocean Breeze where she is coached by Mike Zarate … Member of the USAV Florida High Performance Team.
Sarah Maher (RS/S, 6-0, Orange, CA/Santa Margarita HS) – Earned three varsity letters as a member of the Santa Margarita High School program … Was coached by Katy Daly … Helped her team to multiple league championships … Two time All-Trinity League honoree … 2012 AP Scholar with Honors … Was her team's recipient of the Academic Athlete Award throughout her career … Plays for the Orange County Volleyball Club where she is coached by Andrew Mabry and Charlie Brande … Named to the 2012 AAU All-America Team in the 17-Open Division.
Catalina Jimenez (L/DS, 5-7, New York, NY/Fieldston School) -- Played two years of volleyball at the Fieldston School in New York after moving from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where she played two seasons at Pine Crest High School … Was coached at Fieldston by Collin Henry … As a senior, she was a Second Team All-New York City selection as chosen by msgvarsity.com …. All-Bronx First Team in 2012 after garnering second-team acclaim as a junior … Helped Fieldston to the 2011 NYSAIS state championship … Was an All-Broward County honorable mention pick in 2010 while at Pine Crest … Plays club volleyball for NYC Juniors where she is coached by Ron Van Steen.
Shannon Nugent (MB, 6-0, Vernon Hills, IL/Vernon Hills HS) -- Four-year varsity starter at Vernon Hills High School … Was coached by Abbie Gutzmer … Three-time pick to both area and conference teams … All-Lake Country honoree her final three seasons … Chalked up 211 kills, 46 blocks and 76 digs as a senior in helping her squad to a berth in the regional semifinals … Closed out her career as the program's all-time leader in kills (658) and service aces (141) … Finished second all-time at VHHS with 200 total blocks … All-Academic Award recipient throughout her high school career … Plays club volleyball for Rolling Thunder where she is coached by Spencer Kaszuba … Rolling Thunder finished 6th in the Open Division at the Northern Lights Qualifier in 2012 and earned bids to Nationals in 2009, 2010 and 2011.