Volleyball Inks Three During Early Signing Period
11/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama has signed three national letters of intent during the early signing period, as Tabitha Brown, Quincey Gary and Shannon Mikesky are set to join Alabama Volleyball during the 2015 season.
"I think we added another quality group of student-athletes with this class," said Head Coach Ed Allen. "They will help push this program forward culturally, academically and athletically. I am pleased with their level of athleticism and they should challenge for playing time right away."
Tabitha Brown hails from Spring, Texas, where she starred at Klein Collins High School as a four-year starting outside hitter. She was listed in this year's PrepVolleyball.com All-American Top 50 Volleyball Prospects and PrepVolleyball Senior Aces Top 100. She was a 2014 Under Armour Honorable Mention All-American and was named District MVP for the second-straight season. She was named First Team All-District in all four seasons at Klein Collins and amassed 1,696 career kills, 311 aces and 1,308 digs. With the Asics Willowbrook Club team, she qualified for Nationals in each of her four seasons and was named to the 2014 USA Nationals All-Tournament 17s team.
"Tabitha is a dynamic six-rotation player that applies a tremendous amount of pressure at the service line," says Allen. "She'll add tremendous depth and athleticism to the L2 position. She has a good volleyball IQ and comes from a coaching family with her mother, Latisha, as her club coach."
Quincey Gary, native of Alexandria, Ind., played club volleyball with the prestigious Munciana Volleyball Club under Mike Lingenfelter and was also a three-time AAU All-American. At Pendleton Heights High School, Gary was All-County and All-Conference during all four years and was a two-time All-State honoree. She comes from a very athletic family, as her father Mark played college basketball at UNC-Wilmington, her uncles Jeff and Greg played basketball at Vanderbilt and Tulane, respectively, and her brother Brogan current plays basketball at the University of Saint Francis.
"Quincey is a typical gym rat," says Allen. "She is a great all-around player. She has played as an outside hitter in high school and club, but we're bringing her in her to challenge for the libero position. It will add a great deal of athleticism and flexibility to the libero and defensive specialist positions. She's a kid that plays for Munciana Volleyball Club, which is one of the top clubs in the country. Her preparation and ability with that club puts her in a great position to step in and contribute immediately."
Shannon Mkesky is a 6'0" setter out of Schulenburg, Texas, who helped lead Schulenburg High School to a state runner-up finish in 2012 and 2013, earning All-State setter and All-Tournament Team awards in each of those seasons. In 2013, Schulenburg competed in the Tour of Texas Qualifier and won the Cross Court Classic. She played club volleyball with TEXSTAR and competed in the AAU Volleyball Tournament in 2013. Mikesky was a versatile athlete during her prep career, making the 2013 Regional finals with the Schulenberg High School basketball team and competing at the state tournament three times as a member of the tennis team.
"She's a terrific athlete," says Allen. "She's a great setter but is also an equally great athlete. She will add a physical presence to that position because she is a solid blocker. She can apply pressure out of the setting position using her left or right hand to attack. She's a long kid that is a solid athlete that will provide length in that position. We will get better from an attacking and blocking perspective at setter with her on the floor."
