The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Volleyball Signs Five For 2001 Season
5/31/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
May 31, 2001
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Ellen Fleisher, Kerra Kepley, Jessica Liptak, Allison Magner and Amber Sorensen will join the UAB volleyball team for the 2001 season, Head Coach Melinda Claiborne announced today.
Fleisher, a 6'1 middle blocker from Pelham High School in Pelham, Ala., was named All-State in 1998, 1999 and 2000. She was a member of Pelham's 6A state championship team, she was the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Alabama and was named the Most Valuable Player of the Shelby County Volleyball Tournament.
Kepley, a 6'1 middle blocker from Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, Texas, was a four-year volleyball letterwinner and was named the team's Most Valuable Player in her senior season. Kepley is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and will graduate in the top five percent of her class.
Liptak, a 5'10 setter from Glenbard North High School in Carol Stream, Ill., was an All-Conference performer, was named team MVP and was a team captain in 1999 and 2000. Liptak received the Glenbard North High School Sports Leadership Award in 1998 and 1999. She carries a 3.5 grade point average.
Magner, a transfer from North Carolina State, will enter the 2001 season as a junior. The 6'1 middle blocker from Lake Oswego, Ore. posted 34 kills, 103 digs and 16 total blocks for the Wolfpack in 2000. Magner graduated from Lakeridge High School where she was an All-Conference performer in each of her four years on the volleyball team. She was named the team MVP in her junior and senior seasons and was a team captain in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Magner was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated with a 3.8 GPA.
Sorensen, a 6'1 middle blocker from Riverton High School in Riverton, Utah, was named First Team All-Region in 2000. Her team won the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 Region II Championships and finished fourth in the state in 1998-99. In 1999-2000, Sorensen received All-State Honorable Mention and was named Riverton High School's MVP for the 2000-01 season. Sorensen carries a 3.9 GPA.
"I feel this recruiting class will provide great depth and experience, especially in the middle blocking position," said Claiborne. "The freshmen are coming from some of the top club programs in the country and will bring a high level of competition to our team. Each of these players will have a chance to make an immediate impact on the team."
