Photo by Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Texas A&M volleyball coach Laurie Corbelli is thrilled to announce what she feels is one of the top ten hauls in the 2012 class, adding five versatile, athletic players to her squad. All five are from the State of Texas and three of the five play on the same club team in Austin.
“We’ve been working for about a year-and-a-half to put this class together and it’s definitely one of the most athletic classes that we’ve ever signed,” Corbelli said. “The average vertical jump is higher than any group we’ve ever had. We’re really excited about what this group will bring to the team.
“I feel that this is a top ten [class] in the country,” Corbelli added. “This group is not only very physical, they have also all been on accomplished teams. They have international competition among them and they have won national titles. I can’t imagine this not being a top ten class in the country.”
All prospects five have the ability to help the Aggies in a tremendous way at the net as well as along the back row.
“What we really like about this group is that most of them can be multi-position players. They can really pound the ball at the net and are great blockers, but several have played along the back row throughout their club career to prepare for their collegiate career. So they will bring that extra dimension to A&M, as well as their great speed and athleticism at the net.”
* Angela Lowak – OH – 6-0 – New Braunfels – Austin Juniors
* Sierra Patrick – OH – 5-10 – Austin (Lake Travis) – Austin Juniors
* Shelby Sullivan – MB – 6-2 – Richardson (J.J. Pearce) – Texas Advantage
* Shelbi Vaughan – OH/MB – 6-2 – Mansfield (Legacy) – Tejas
Here are quick capsules from each of the five signees, along with quotes from Coach Corbelli. The full-length audio interview is posted in the player above.
Jassmin Babers
* Daughter of former A&M offensive coordinator Dino Babers.
* Perhaps the fastest-rising recruit in the nation over the past year.
* All-Tournament at 2011 USA Volleyball Junior Girls Volleyball Championships.
* PrepVolleyball.com Senior Aces top 120.
* LonestarVolleyball.com All-Texas Team special recognition.
* 2010 all-district first team and outstanding hitter.
* Super Centex second team.
* 2009 Waco Tribune Super CenTex Newcomer of the Year.
Corbelli says…
“Jazz is brand new to higher-level volleyball because she has moved around a lot. Her game grew so much over the last year and she won All-American honors at the junior national tournament … one of 12 players recognized nationally. Over a three-month period, she went from a very average middle blocker that was trying to figure out the position, to shutting down hitters coming at her with big swings and full approaches. Her jumped improved, her power improved and her understanding [of the game] greatly increased. She became one of the hottest recruits out there overnight, and we had been talking with her, knowing that she had a connection to A&M. She is going to be phenomenal and I can’t wait for Aggie fans to see this athlete. She makes everything look so easy and I really enjoy watching her play. Her mother played volleyball at Hawaii in the ‘80s and Jazz was very good at other sports, but we’re lucky that she decided on volleyball.”
Angela Lowak
* Four-year varsity member who led New Braunfels High School to state playoffs every year, a co-District 25-5A championship in 2010 and the outright district title in 2011.
* Earned all-district second-team honors as a freshman and named to the first team as a sophomore and junior (2011 teams have not been announced).
* Three-time member of the Academic All-District 26-5A team.
* Named to 2011 AVCA Under Armour All-American Watch List.
* 2009 PrepVolleyball.com Soph 79 Highest Honorable Mention (top 145 sophomores in the nation).
* 2010 All-Centex second team.
* 2010 San Antonio Express-News All-Area Super Team.
* 2010 LoneStarVolleyball.com Outstanding Hitter honorable mention.
* 2011 PrepVolleyball.com Senior Aces top 120.
* 2011 LoneStarVolleyball.com All-Texas first team.
* A two-time All-Comal County Team selection.
* As a junior, earned all-state honors from the Texas Girls Coaches Association and was a PrepVolleyball.com All-American High Honorable Mention.
Corbelli says…
“Angela has been on the junior national team in the past. She’s about 5-11 and has one of the most outstanding vertical jumps that we’ve recruited. She’s mostly noted for her really fast and quick arm swing … a lot like a Kelsey Black. She has the entire game and has won tons of accolades as a player. She loves Aggieland and we got really lucky with her.”
Sierra Patrick
* Leads a Lake Travis team that is the No. 1-ranked team in the state and is the defending high school state 4A champion.
* No. 64 ranking in PrepVolleyball.com Senior Aces.
* 2011 AVCA Under Armour All-American Watch List.
* 2011 Central Texas Top Ten Players to Watch by Austin American-Statesman.
* 2011 LoneStarVolleyball.com Special Recognition All-Texas Team.
* 2010 High School State 4A All-Tournament Team.
* Was a member of the 2008 USA Youth Select Team and competed for the 2009 A1 USA Youth National team at the High Performance Camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
* 2010 USA Volleyball High Performance Championships, Women’s International Junior Gold Division, third place USA Youth A2 Red.
* 2006 USA Volleyball Girls Select Holiday Camp Roster.
* Coached at Lake Travis by Jennifer (Wells) Kazmierski, who played volleyball under coach Laurie Corbelli at Texas A&M from 1994-97.
* Was runner-up to Darby Graff of Hallsville High School in the high jump at the 2011 UIL State Track & Field Meet with a 5-feet, 7-inch effort.
*Sierra’s mother, Sandra Farmer-Patrick, won a silver medal for USA in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, and also competed in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
* Sierra’s father, David Patrick, competed for USA in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1992 Olympics.
* Plans to participate in volleyball and track at A&M.
Corbelli says…
“Sierra’s mother, Sandra Farmer, ran in the 1984 Olympic games for the Bahamas and then in 1888. And her dad, David Patrick, ran the 400-meter sprint in the 1988 Olympics. You talk about pedigree … this kid could do track and field if she wanted, and she’s actually going to try to do some jumping at A&M. She got second place in the state in the high jump last year and lost to a kid that is walking on for us. She’s an outside attacker and can really block at the net with her great vertical. She’s a sight to watch because of how physical she is. In a matter of a very short time, she’ll establish herself as one of the top hitters and blockers in the SEC.”
Shelby Sullivan
* A three-time all-district selection and two-time district most valuable blocker.
* Led J.J. Pearce to four undefeated district seasons and back-to-back state semifinal appearances, including 2010 when the Mustangs fell to eventual state champion Lake Travis, led by future Aggie teammate Sierra Patrick.
* Named to the Texas Girls Coaches Association all-state team and LoneStarVolleyball.com’s All-Texas second team in 2010.
* Was a member of the 2010 USA Girl’s Youth National Team.
* Won gold at NORCECAs in Guatemala.
* Took first place at the 2010 High Performance Championships Women’s International Junior Gold Division and was named best blocker.
* Competed for TAV Rags 17 Black club team and earned All-American honors after leading team to a second-place finish at the 2011 AAU Girls Volleyball National Championships.
* Was named the 2010 best offensive blocker at the prestigious Duncanville Tournament of Champions and earned all-tournament honors in 2011.
* Two-time “Punt, Pass and Kick” national champion (2006-07).
* Distant relative of the Corbelli Family.
Corbelli says…
“Shelby is a middle blocker and a former member of the youth national team. She’s a two-time punt, pass and kick champion. She’s related to me in some way and it’s been fun to watch that family get involved in the sport of volleyball. She’s excelled in this sport and is one of the hardest working kids that we’ve recruited. The coaches from the youth national team told us that she’s the kind of kid that you have to have on your team. Her coachability is through the roof. She’s a very smart attacker who plays a very smart volleyball game all-around.”
Shelbi Vaughn
* Four-year varsity member at Azle and Legacy high schools.
* 2008 second-team all-district 6-4A.
* 2009 first-team all-district 6-4A, Most Valuable Blocker and Defensive player of the year.
* 2010 first-team all-district 5-5Afor 5-5A district.
* 2010 Mansfield Legacy team MVP, broke all the blocking records and all but one hitting records... 2011 District 5-5A Hitter of the Year, first team all-district, academic all-district.
* Played four year of club volleyball, including two years for Tejas.
* Track and Field: currently listed by Track & Field News as the top female prep athlete in the discus for 2011 season.
* Her top mark in 2011 was 176 feet, 5 inches in the discus, while the next best in the United States among high school girls was 166-8.
* Also had a best of 46-11 in the shot put, which ranked 21st nationally.?* For the 2011 season among Americans (including high school, college, and pro athletes), Vaughan's discus mark ranked 36th in the nation.
* Among junior athletes (age 19 and under), Vaughan was the top American in the discus and she ranks 16th in the world.
* Among youth athletes (age 17 and under), Vaughan was the top American in the discus and ranks fourth in the world.
* Two-time Texas 5A high school champion in the discus and two-time runner-up in shot put.
* Discus: USATF Junior Champion (165-5) in Eugene, Oregon.
* World Youth Trials runner-up (159-10) in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
* Bronze medalist at World Youth (172-6) in France.
* Set her PR in the qualifying round of World Youth (176-5).
* Gold medalist at Pan Am Junior Championships (174-3) in Miramar, Florida.
* Shot Put: sixth at USATF Juniors (42-8 3/4).
* Third at World Youth Trials (45-8) in Myrtle Beach.
* No. 4 rated discus thrower in the world in her age group.
* Plans to participate in volleyball and track at A&M.
Corbelli says…
“Shelby is number two in the world in her age group in the discus. She wants to be in the Olympic games in either volleyball or track and field. She’s already competing internationally in track and field. Volleyball has always been a game that she’s played for fun until she started getting really good, really fast. She’s still very young in the sport but you just can’t miss this kid … she’s a beast on the floor. She’s a discus thrower and shot putter who can touch 10-5 with very little effort. She’s one of the most physical kids that any of the coaches that we’ve talked to have ever seen at this level. I think she’s also going to be throwing for the track team. She’s a phenomenal athlete and a wonderful kid, and I’m glad that she’s going to be an Aggie.”
“We’ve been working for about a year-and-a-half to put this class together and it’s definitely one of the most athletic classes that we’ve ever signed,” Corbelli said. “The average vertical jump is higher than any group we’ve ever had. We’re really excited about what this group will bring to the team.
“I feel that this is a top ten [class] in the country,” Corbelli added. “This group is not only very physical, they have also all been on accomplished teams. They have international competition among them and they have won national titles. I can’t imagine this not being a top ten class in the country.”
All prospects five have the ability to help the Aggies in a tremendous way at the net as well as along the back row.
“What we really like about this group is that most of them can be multi-position players. They can really pound the ball at the net and are great blockers, but several have played along the back row throughout their club career to prepare for their collegiate career. So they will bring that extra dimension to A&M, as well as their great speed and athleticism at the net.”
2012 VOLLEYBALL SIGNING CLASS
* Jazzmin Babers – MB – 6-2 – Waco Midway – Austin Juniors* Angela Lowak – OH – 6-0 – New Braunfels – Austin Juniors
* Sierra Patrick – OH – 5-10 – Austin (Lake Travis) – Austin Juniors
* Shelby Sullivan – MB – 6-2 – Richardson (J.J. Pearce) – Texas Advantage
* Shelbi Vaughan – OH/MB – 6-2 – Mansfield (Legacy) – Tejas
Here are quick capsules from each of the five signees, along with quotes from Coach Corbelli. The full-length audio interview is posted in the player above.
Jassmin Babers
* Daughter of former A&M offensive coordinator Dino Babers.
* Perhaps the fastest-rising recruit in the nation over the past year.
* All-Tournament at 2011 USA Volleyball Junior Girls Volleyball Championships.
* PrepVolleyball.com Senior Aces top 120.
* LonestarVolleyball.com All-Texas Team special recognition.
* 2010 all-district first team and outstanding hitter.
* Super Centex second team.
* 2009 Waco Tribune Super CenTex Newcomer of the Year.
Corbelli says…
“Jazz is brand new to higher-level volleyball because she has moved around a lot. Her game grew so much over the last year and she won All-American honors at the junior national tournament … one of 12 players recognized nationally. Over a three-month period, she went from a very average middle blocker that was trying to figure out the position, to shutting down hitters coming at her with big swings and full approaches. Her jumped improved, her power improved and her understanding [of the game] greatly increased. She became one of the hottest recruits out there overnight, and we had been talking with her, knowing that she had a connection to A&M. She is going to be phenomenal and I can’t wait for Aggie fans to see this athlete. She makes everything look so easy and I really enjoy watching her play. Her mother played volleyball at Hawaii in the ‘80s and Jazz was very good at other sports, but we’re lucky that she decided on volleyball.”
Angela Lowak
* Four-year varsity member who led New Braunfels High School to state playoffs every year, a co-District 25-5A championship in 2010 and the outright district title in 2011.
* Earned all-district second-team honors as a freshman and named to the first team as a sophomore and junior (2011 teams have not been announced).
* Three-time member of the Academic All-District 26-5A team.
* Named to 2011 AVCA Under Armour All-American Watch List.
* 2009 PrepVolleyball.com Soph 79 Highest Honorable Mention (top 145 sophomores in the nation).
* 2010 All-Centex second team.
* 2010 San Antonio Express-News All-Area Super Team.
* 2010 LoneStarVolleyball.com Outstanding Hitter honorable mention.
* 2011 PrepVolleyball.com Senior Aces top 120.
* 2011 LoneStarVolleyball.com All-Texas first team.
* A two-time All-Comal County Team selection.
* As a junior, earned all-state honors from the Texas Girls Coaches Association and was a PrepVolleyball.com All-American High Honorable Mention.
Corbelli says…
“Angela has been on the junior national team in the past. She’s about 5-11 and has one of the most outstanding vertical jumps that we’ve recruited. She’s mostly noted for her really fast and quick arm swing … a lot like a Kelsey Black. She has the entire game and has won tons of accolades as a player. She loves Aggieland and we got really lucky with her.”
Sierra Patrick
* Leads a Lake Travis team that is the No. 1-ranked team in the state and is the defending high school state 4A champion.
* No. 64 ranking in PrepVolleyball.com Senior Aces.
* 2011 AVCA Under Armour All-American Watch List.
* 2011 Central Texas Top Ten Players to Watch by Austin American-Statesman.
* 2011 LoneStarVolleyball.com Special Recognition All-Texas Team.
* 2010 High School State 4A All-Tournament Team.
* Was a member of the 2008 USA Youth Select Team and competed for the 2009 A1 USA Youth National team at the High Performance Camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
* 2010 USA Volleyball High Performance Championships, Women’s International Junior Gold Division, third place USA Youth A2 Red.
* 2006 USA Volleyball Girls Select Holiday Camp Roster.
* Coached at Lake Travis by Jennifer (Wells) Kazmierski, who played volleyball under coach Laurie Corbelli at Texas A&M from 1994-97.
* Was runner-up to Darby Graff of Hallsville High School in the high jump at the 2011 UIL State Track & Field Meet with a 5-feet, 7-inch effort.
*Sierra’s mother, Sandra Farmer-Patrick, won a silver medal for USA in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, and also competed in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
* Sierra’s father, David Patrick, competed for USA in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1992 Olympics.
* Plans to participate in volleyball and track at A&M.
Corbelli says…
“Sierra’s mother, Sandra Farmer, ran in the 1984 Olympic games for the Bahamas and then in 1888. And her dad, David Patrick, ran the 400-meter sprint in the 1988 Olympics. You talk about pedigree … this kid could do track and field if she wanted, and she’s actually going to try to do some jumping at A&M. She got second place in the state in the high jump last year and lost to a kid that is walking on for us. She’s an outside attacker and can really block at the net with her great vertical. She’s a sight to watch because of how physical she is. In a matter of a very short time, she’ll establish herself as one of the top hitters and blockers in the SEC.”
Shelby Sullivan
* A three-time all-district selection and two-time district most valuable blocker.
* Led J.J. Pearce to four undefeated district seasons and back-to-back state semifinal appearances, including 2010 when the Mustangs fell to eventual state champion Lake Travis, led by future Aggie teammate Sierra Patrick.
* Named to the Texas Girls Coaches Association all-state team and LoneStarVolleyball.com’s All-Texas second team in 2010.
* Was a member of the 2010 USA Girl’s Youth National Team.
* Won gold at NORCECAs in Guatemala.
* Took first place at the 2010 High Performance Championships Women’s International Junior Gold Division and was named best blocker.
* Competed for TAV Rags 17 Black club team and earned All-American honors after leading team to a second-place finish at the 2011 AAU Girls Volleyball National Championships.
* Was named the 2010 best offensive blocker at the prestigious Duncanville Tournament of Champions and earned all-tournament honors in 2011.
* Two-time “Punt, Pass and Kick” national champion (2006-07).
* Distant relative of the Corbelli Family.
Corbelli says…
“Shelby is a middle blocker and a former member of the youth national team. She’s a two-time punt, pass and kick champion. She’s related to me in some way and it’s been fun to watch that family get involved in the sport of volleyball. She’s excelled in this sport and is one of the hardest working kids that we’ve recruited. The coaches from the youth national team told us that she’s the kind of kid that you have to have on your team. Her coachability is through the roof. She’s a very smart attacker who plays a very smart volleyball game all-around.”
Shelbi Vaughn
* Four-year varsity member at Azle and Legacy high schools.
* 2008 second-team all-district 6-4A.
* 2009 first-team all-district 6-4A, Most Valuable Blocker and Defensive player of the year.
* 2010 first-team all-district 5-5Afor 5-5A district.
* 2010 Mansfield Legacy team MVP, broke all the blocking records and all but one hitting records... 2011 District 5-5A Hitter of the Year, first team all-district, academic all-district.
* Played four year of club volleyball, including two years for Tejas.
* Track and Field: currently listed by Track & Field News as the top female prep athlete in the discus for 2011 season.
* Her top mark in 2011 was 176 feet, 5 inches in the discus, while the next best in the United States among high school girls was 166-8.
* Also had a best of 46-11 in the shot put, which ranked 21st nationally.?* For the 2011 season among Americans (including high school, college, and pro athletes), Vaughan's discus mark ranked 36th in the nation.
* Among junior athletes (age 19 and under), Vaughan was the top American in the discus and she ranks 16th in the world.
* Among youth athletes (age 17 and under), Vaughan was the top American in the discus and ranks fourth in the world.
* Two-time Texas 5A high school champion in the discus and two-time runner-up in shot put.
* Discus: USATF Junior Champion (165-5) in Eugene, Oregon.
* World Youth Trials runner-up (159-10) in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
* Bronze medalist at World Youth (172-6) in France.
* Set her PR in the qualifying round of World Youth (176-5).
* Gold medalist at Pan Am Junior Championships (174-3) in Miramar, Florida.
* Shot Put: sixth at USATF Juniors (42-8 3/4).
* Third at World Youth Trials (45-8) in Myrtle Beach.
* No. 4 rated discus thrower in the world in her age group.
* Plans to participate in volleyball and track at A&M.
Corbelli says…
“Shelby is number two in the world in her age group in the discus. She wants to be in the Olympic games in either volleyball or track and field. She’s already competing internationally in track and field. Volleyball has always been a game that she’s played for fun until she started getting really good, really fast. She’s still very young in the sport but you just can’t miss this kid … she’s a beast on the floor. She’s a discus thrower and shot putter who can touch 10-5 with very little effort. She’s one of the most physical kids that any of the coaches that we’ve talked to have ever seen at this level. I think she’s also going to be throwing for the track team. She’s a phenomenal athlete and a wonderful kid, and I’m glad that she’s going to be an Aggie.”
Never miss the latest news from TexAgs!
Join our free email list
