The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Beach Volleyball Signs Three
11/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB beach volleyball team and head coach Bailey Coleman announced the signing of three student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Tuesday.
Cassidy Fisher, Brayden Gruenewald and Jessica Zieg inked their NLIs to round out the 2015-16 UAB signing class.
See below for details on the 2015-16 signees.
Cassidy Fisher
An Orlando, Fla., native, Fisher is a well-rounded and dynamic athlete. During middle school, Fisher was a member of the track, basketball, soccer and flag football squads.
Fisher first began her volleyball career during her freshman season, making school history for lettering in three sports: volleyball, basketball and flag football.
Her passion for volleyball grew stronger as she discovered beach volleyball. She continued to work hard by playing year round throughout her high school career on the varsity squad, club teams and in the sand.
Fisher was a member of the 2013 and 2014 USA Florida Team and was named team captain of Cypress Bay’s squad in 2015.
Fisher earned back-to-back District 12-8A Championships in 2013 and 2014 as well as being named to the All-Broward County squad in 2014.
She is the daughter of Beverly Martin and former NFL player Brian O’Neal.
Brayden Gruenewald
Gruenewald comes to UAB from Southlake Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas, where she was a libero for the varsity indoor squad. Gruenewald is also a member of the Tejas Volleyball Club and the 692 Beach Volleyball Club.
Gruenewald was named a 2015 Prep Volleyball Breakout Player as she led Southlake Carroll High School to the 7-6A District Championship and Regional Quarter Finals.
The squad was ranked No. 1 in the state of Texas and No 7 in the country as of Nov. 5.
She was also a member of the 2014 Southlake Carroll High School Regional Semifinals team.
In 2013, Gruenewald earned the Skyline Juniors Award for outstanding dedication, attitude, effort and commitment to the team as voted by her teammates.
Her sand volleyball resume is equally impressive as Gruenewald has recorded eight top-5 finishes, taking first place at the ROX Series National Qualifier and USAV Galveston Grand Prix.
Gruenewald also competed in the Gold Bracket at the AAU National Championship and the Silver Bracket at the BVCA Club National Championship.
Shining in the classroom, Gruenewald has earned four consecutive Academic All-District honors and was named to the 2015 Academic All-State team. She is also a Texas Success and Distinguished Achievement Program Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society.
Gruenewald is the daughter of Trevor and Rhonda Gruenewald. Her father is a former student-athlete, having played baseball at Purdue University. Gruenewald has a younger brother, Mitchell, and two older sisters, Taylor and Payton.
Payton plays indoor and beach volleyball for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, while Taylor plays soccer at Mississippi State.
Jessica Zieg
Zieg has been impressive on the sand throughout her career, earning an AAA CBVA Women’s Rank.
In MiraCosta College action this year, Zeig finished second overall in conference, first in “2s” division, third in the state and was named to the First-Team All Conference.
She also earned Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week.
Zeig is a proven champion with first-place finishes at the 2013 AAU National Junior Qualifier and the AAU National Club Championships.
She has continually played on grand stages during her career, earning a third-place finish at the 2012 AAU Pan Pacific International Sand Tournament, an eighth-place finish at the 2011 USAV National Junior Tournament Invitation and a second-place finish at the USAV National Junior Qualifier.
From 2009-2013, Zeig competed for the San Diego Beach Volleyball Club in regional, national and international competition.
She has earned superior ranks, the highest rank given by USAV Sand Volleyball, in passing, ball control, work ethic and coachability.
For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official social media accounts of UAB Athletics on Twitter (@UABAthletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uabathletics) and on Snapchat (@uabathletics).
