Dec. 15, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Three stellar high school athletes have signed to play volleyball at Texas A&M, Aggie head coach Laurie Corbelli announced.
Allie Freiwald from Littleton, Colo. (Mullen High School) and Allie Sawatzky from St. Andrews, Manitoba, Canada (Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School), both 6-1 setters, as well as 6-0 outside hitter Heather Reynolds of Wharton, Texas (Wharton High School) all signed to play for the Aggies during the early signing period.
"This class really offers all that we wanted and more," Corbelli said. "We are losing both of our setters, so Freiwald and Sawatzky obviously will be counted on to make an immediate impact because of their position, and we are looking for Reynolds to also contribute immediately with the versatility she offers to our lineup. "
Freiwald (pronounced FRY-wald) is a two-time Colorado Class 4A all-state selection, having led the Mullen Mustangs to a state runner-up finish in 2008 and a state semifinal appearance in 2009. Coached by Vilis Ozols, Freiwald also is a three-time Centennial League all-conference performer, earning first-team laurels this season after leading Mullen to a co-conference championship title, a regional championship and a 26-4 overall record.
Freiwald plays club ball for Colorado Performance Volleyball Club. Coached by Michelle Buckner and Gavin Markovits, her 17s team tied for 13th at the 2009 USA Volleyball Girls Junior Olympics National Division.
"We were most impressed with her touch and delivery of the ball," Corbelli said about Freiwald. "She has beautiful, strong hands and can set the ball from the back corner of the court to the opposite corner on the front row with precision and ease. She also is a great blocker and has a great demeanor on the court and does an excellent job of directing her team. "
Sawatzky (pronounced sah-WATT-ski), a left-handed setter and hitter who will join the Aggies in January, was named the MVP at the 2009 Provincial championship after leading coach David Carrasco's Bison Club team to a first-place finish. She has been a starter on the Lord Selkirk varsity team since the 10th grade and helped lead the Royals to provincial high school championship titles in 2007 and 2008 and a quarterfinal finish as a senior.
As a junior, Sawatzky was voted a Top 10 Player in the province, according to the Winnipeg Sun coaches' poll. Earlier this season, the team captain was named MVP at the University of Winnipeg High School Girls' Volleyball Tournament after leading the Royals to the gold medal.
"I really like the height at which Sawatzky can contact the set and the extra threat she offers by being a lefty and able to attack the second ball when she is on the front row," Corbelli said. "She is experienced at running both a 5-1 and 6-2 offense, and she offers a different look than what a right-handed setter would.
"She reminds me a lot of (former A&M setter) Kari Kelley from the early 2000s, just a very good, spirited hard worker and a good leader on the court."
Reynolds has been a decorated athlete throughout her high school career and recently was named the District 26-3A MVP for the second consecutive year. In addition, the senior garnered Texas Girls Coaches Association all-state team honors and was selected to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Under Armour Honorable Mention All-America team.
A four-year member of the Wharton varsity team coached by Courtney Carter, Reynolds is a three-time member of the 26-3A all-district team and earned district newcomer of the year honors as a freshman. Reynolds, who also competes for Willowbrook Volleyball Club, was named second team-all state by the Texas Sports Writers Association following her freshman and junior campaigns and received TSWA all-state honorable mention as a sophomore. In addition, she is a three-time member of the academic all-district team.
"We have been able to watch Heather quite a bit, and we've always admired her great jump and her high reach," Corbelli said. "She's a very dynamic and versatile player. She gets around the court very quickly. She plays both front and back row where she is a primary passer and does a very nice job with that. She also is a key attacker from the backcourt.
"One of the things that I most like about Heather as an outside is that she is an excellent blocker. She has a great vertical and wingspan, and she has a substantial reach over the net. So all of those things together just convinced us she was someone we wanted to have in our program."
Corbelli loses six seniors, including two setters and three outside hitters, from the 2009 team that went 20-11 and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16.
"We knew we needed to bring in two setters that were both very competent and would add another dimension to our team that we haven't had in a long time, and that is the size at the net," Corbelli said. "Sawatzky and Freiwald are going to be able to take a lot of court with their blocking as well, and having the size they have and getting to the ball with really good feet, they will be such a big part of the offense whether or not they are front or back row.
"Heather has played some middle, and she could be a wonderful right side, but at this point, we are planning on training her on the left side. You can never be too deep out there. We have two returners (Kelsey Black and Chelsea Ringel) who will be playing here all spring. However, Heather brings a different dimension of play with the things that she offers, so we'll be looking for these athletes to make immediate impacts."
2009 Texas A&M Volleyball Signing Class:
Name, Height, Position, Hometown (High School/Club Team)
Allie Freiwald, 6-1, S, Littleton, Colo. (Mullen H.S../Colorado Performance Volleyball Club)
Heather Reynolds, 6-0, OH, Wharton, Texas (Wharton H.S./Willowbrook Volleyball Club)
Allie Sawatzky, 6-1, S, St. Andrews, Manitoba, Canada (Lord Selkirk/Bison Volleyball Club)