SKYHAWK VOLLEYBALL ANNOUNCES TWO ADDITIONS FOR 2019 ROSTER
11/26/2018 9:38:00 AM | Volleyball, Beach Volleyball
MARTIN, Tenn. – University of Tennessee at Martin head coach Jaclynn Wilson has announced that Zoe Merriweather and Lucy Kaufman have committed to the Skyhawk volleyball program. Both players will be freshmen at UT Martin in the fall of 2019.
A 6-0 middle blocker out of Hernando, Miss., Merriweather is coming off a stellar prep career at Hernando High School under head coach Jayme Vinson. She was named the 2018 All-County Most Valuable Player and a first team all-region honoree after helping lead the Tigers to a 16-10 record and a Class 3 state tournament appearance during her senior campaign.
As a senior, Merriweather was responsible for several big matches, including a 17-kill performance (in just 23 swings) against DeSoto Central on Sept. 6. Her successful 2018 campaign came after she was one of only 12 players elected to participate as part of the North Mississippi squad in the 2017 Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star Game.
Merriweather played her first two prep seasons at Southaven High School, where she captured 2016 all-region honors. She was named "Player of the Week" by the Jackson Clarion Ledger newspaper after tallying 15 kills, six blocks and five digs in a rivalry match against Lewisburg.
Merriweather also enjoyed valuable experience on the club circuit competing on the Memphis Volleyball Academy squad.
"Zoe is an exceptional athlete," Wilson said. "We're really looking forward to having her in our gym and honing her skills."
Kaufman is a 5-9 outside hitter and defensive specialist from Eureka High School in Eureka, Mo. Playing for head coach Jodie Fowler, Kaufman has helped the Wildcats notch a 57-15-5 overall record over her last two seasons. That includes a 31-8-3 record during Kaufman's senior year – as EHS captured the school's first-ever Class 4 state championship with a 25-23, 25-23 win over Lafayette. The Wildcats, who won their first district championship since 1996, rose as high as No. 6 in the Missouri team rankings this past fall.
Last season, Kaufman led EHS with 31 service aces to go along with 156 digs, 52 kills and 13 blocks. She ranked second on the squad with eight digs in only two sets in the state championship victory over Lafayette.
Kaufman is also an accomplished beach volleyball player, as she honed her skills on the club level for High Performance STL. She earned a AAU Junior Olympic bid, a USAV National Open bid and a AVP First National Championship bid in Hermosa Beach, Calif. She placed fifth in the prestigious AVP VA Flyaway Juniors Tournament and earned a third-place finish at the 2017 Texas Image Sand AAU event in Grand Prairie, Texas. She also earned a spot on the national 2017 JVA Beach Watch List.
"We're excited about the versatility that Lucy provides," Wilson said. "She will be a great addition to both our indoor and beach programs."
UT Martin is coming off a season where it accumulated its most single-season victories since 2011 while also qualifying for its first Ohio Valley Conference Championship tournament appearance since 2012.
A 6-0 middle blocker out of Hernando, Miss., Merriweather is coming off a stellar prep career at Hernando High School under head coach Jayme Vinson. She was named the 2018 All-County Most Valuable Player and a first team all-region honoree after helping lead the Tigers to a 16-10 record and a Class 3 state tournament appearance during her senior campaign.
As a senior, Merriweather was responsible for several big matches, including a 17-kill performance (in just 23 swings) against DeSoto Central on Sept. 6. Her successful 2018 campaign came after she was one of only 12 players elected to participate as part of the North Mississippi squad in the 2017 Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star Game.
Merriweather played her first two prep seasons at Southaven High School, where she captured 2016 all-region honors. She was named "Player of the Week" by the Jackson Clarion Ledger newspaper after tallying 15 kills, six blocks and five digs in a rivalry match against Lewisburg.
Merriweather also enjoyed valuable experience on the club circuit competing on the Memphis Volleyball Academy squad.
"Zoe is an exceptional athlete," Wilson said. "We're really looking forward to having her in our gym and honing her skills."
Kaufman is a 5-9 outside hitter and defensive specialist from Eureka High School in Eureka, Mo. Playing for head coach Jodie Fowler, Kaufman has helped the Wildcats notch a 57-15-5 overall record over her last two seasons. That includes a 31-8-3 record during Kaufman's senior year – as EHS captured the school's first-ever Class 4 state championship with a 25-23, 25-23 win over Lafayette. The Wildcats, who won their first district championship since 1996, rose as high as No. 6 in the Missouri team rankings this past fall.
Last season, Kaufman led EHS with 31 service aces to go along with 156 digs, 52 kills and 13 blocks. She ranked second on the squad with eight digs in only two sets in the state championship victory over Lafayette.
Kaufman is also an accomplished beach volleyball player, as she honed her skills on the club level for High Performance STL. She earned a AAU Junior Olympic bid, a USAV National Open bid and a AVP First National Championship bid in Hermosa Beach, Calif. She placed fifth in the prestigious AVP VA Flyaway Juniors Tournament and earned a third-place finish at the 2017 Texas Image Sand AAU event in Grand Prairie, Texas. She also earned a spot on the national 2017 JVA Beach Watch List.
"We're excited about the versatility that Lucy provides," Wilson said. "She will be a great addition to both our indoor and beach programs."
UT Martin is coming off a season where it accumulated its most single-season victories since 2011 while also qualifying for its first Ohio Valley Conference Championship tournament appearance since 2012.
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