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Volleyball signs two standout players in spring signing period
AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas Volleyball head coach Jerritt Elliott has added a pair of the nation's top players to National Letters of Intent to attend The University of Texas, increasing his 2008 class size to four players. Rachael Adams, a 6-2 middle blocker from Cincinnati, Ohio, and Amber Roberson, a 6-3 outside hitter from San Antonio, Texas, will enroll at UT in the fall of 2008. Elliott adds the pair of standouts to a class that already includes Sydney Yogi, a 5-3 libero from Honolulu, Hawaii and Michelle Kocher, a 5-10 setter from Wheaton, Ill. "We are extremely excited to add two more big-time recruits to our program," Elliott said. "These signings really solidify this recruiting class as one of the top classes and continues to show how solid our program is right now." Adams, the third-ranked national recruit by PrepVolleyball.com, attends Mount Notre Dame High School and plays club volleyball with Team Z in Cincinnati. The current senior boasts a 36-inch vertical leap and is a two-time member of the U.S. Youth National Team. In 2006, she teamed with Yogi to help the U.S. claim a gold medal at the NORCECA International Championships in Florida. Last summer, Adams led Team Z to a 17 Open Junior Olympic club national championship and was named to the Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 in the publication's April 2008 issue. The PrepVolleyball.com High School All-American led her school to an Ohio Division I State Championship in volleyball and basketball as a junior. Roberson comes to Texas after playing her prep volleyball at Wagner High School for former Longhorn and four-time All-American Demetria Sance Padgitt. In 2007, Roberson garnered Texas Girls Coaches Association unanimous All-State honors after recording 554 kills and 322 digs in 2007. The two-time 26-5A All-District First Team selection plays her club volleyball for the 18 Kaepa Alamo Volleyball club. "Amber Roberson is a very gifted, fluid athlete who is late in the game in terms of volleyball training, but her upside is very promising as she joins our program," Elliott said. "She is a great kid who played for Dee Sance in San Antonio and we are excited to keep a local kid home playing for us." In addition to her volleyball prowess, Roberson was a Nike, Adidas and BCI All-American in basketball this year and is a two-time District 26-5A high jump champion. Roberson led her Wagner club to the UIL State Basketball Tournament in 2008 and is currently ranked No. 5 in the nation in the high jump. Yogi, who is ranked as one of the nation's top prep liberos, attends Punahou School in Honolulu and plays her travel ball for the ASICS Rainbows volleyball club. Kocher is a four-year starter for perennial Illinois state power St. Francis and plays her club volleyball for Mizuno Sports Performance Elite. Texas' stellar recruiting class follows back-to-back classes that were ranked second in the country by PrepVolleyball.com and Volleyball Magazine in 2006 and 2007.
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