Volleyball Hauls in Seven for 2017

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Head coach Steve Greene and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball has added seven of the best from around the nation to the fold for 2017.
 
The new additions hail from as far away as Minnesota and South Carolina and include a host of members on the high school All-American watch list.
 
"We are absolutely thrilled with the talent, athleticism, and depth of this class," said head coach Steve Greene. "I really like that we are bringing in student-athletes that can play multiple positions and the options they will give our team.  
 
"This new group of Islanders all have the skill and physicality to compete right away at the next level," Greene continued. "I'm most impressed with their attitudes and how hard working I know each of these new Islanders will be."
 
 
MACKENZIE COATES | Hays High School | Buda, Texas
 
A setter, Coates joins the Islanders after three standout seasons with Hays High School. Ranked the 14th best setter in the nation by MaxPreps, she was named the 25-6A District Setter of the Year as a senior and was listed on the AVCA High School All-American Watch List. Coates was also named to the Prep Volleyball Preseason All-American Watch List. She is a four-year all-district performer and four-year all-academic honoree.
 
In 123 sets this season with the Rebels, Coates has dished out 1,346 assists to average 10.9 per set both of which are school records. She has also added 96 kills and 225 digs as a senior. In her career, the new Islander has .1,938 assists, 821 kills, 791 digs, 238 blocks and 156 aces. In her first two seasons in high school, she played middle blocker before transitioning to setter.
 
SHANICE HORN | Aiken High School | Aiken, South Carolina
 
An outside hitter from the Palmetto State, Horn comes to the Island after capturing a 4A State Championship this season. Horn is the fifth ranked player out of the state of South Carolina according to MaxPreps and is a three-time preseason MVP honoree.
 
Horn has racked up numerous awards including all-region and all-state recognition. In the state title match Saturday, Horn racked up 25 kills in a three-set sweep that led Aiken its second title since 2010. Horn was also named the Region Player of the Year.
 
CHLOE SIMON | Katy High School | Katy, Texas
 
An outside hitter, Simon has spent the past four years at Katy High School where she has racked up numerous awards in the Houston area. As a senior, Simon has appeared on three all-tournament teams while knocking down 491 kills to average 3.74 per set.  Defensively, Simon racked up 261 digs to average just shy of three per set.
 
For each of the past three seasons, Simon appeared on the Greater Houston Volleyball Coaches Association Fab 50 list and earned first team All-District recognition as both a sophomore and junior. Simon also excels off the court, earning Academic All-District honors in each of her four seasons at Katy.
 
RACHEL YOUNG | Frisco High School | Frisco, Texas
 
A middle blocker/right side, Young has spent four seasons with the Raccoons helping Frisco to a pair of district championships. Young is a two-time All-District performer, picking up the honors in 2014 and 2015 while voting for 2016 awards has not yet taken place.
 
As a senior, she led the district hitting a blistering .464 on the year and ranked second in blocks. At the club level, Young has twice medaled at the Girls Junior National Championships, taking gold as a 14 and bronze as a 15. Young is also a four-time Academic All-District performer and honor student. She is a member of the National Honor Society.
 
EMILY HUBACEK | Bryan High School | Bryan, Texas
 
Hubacek comes to the Island as a right side/outside hitter after four years at Bryan High. As a senior, she has 505 kills and 295 kills for the Vikings. Hubacek is a two-time All-District performer, earning first team honors in 2015-16 and second team honors in 2014-15. She also picked up TSWA All-State honorable mention last season.
 
In 2014-15, Hubacek was named Bryan's most valuable player. She was also recently named the District 18-5A most valuable offensive player. Hubacek and the Vikings claimed back-to-back bi-district titles in 2015 and 2016. A two-sport start, Hubacek also played four years of softball in high school. Academically, she is a four-time Academic All-District performer in volleyball and softball.
 
JENNA KRENEK | Cy-Ride High School | Houston, Texas
 
A libero, Krenek is the 2016 District 17-6A defensive player of the year. In each of the past two seasons, Krenek earned a spot on the GHVCA Preseason Fab 50 list. She is a three-time all-district performer, earning the honors each year from 2014-16. As a senior, Krenek has 265 digs on the season.
 
In 2014, Krenek led the Cy-Fair ISD in digs with 389. At the club level, she played for the Houston Juniors and appeared five times at the Girls National Championships. In 2016, her club took second in the 17-U Open division while she won gold in 2014. Krenek is a member of the National Honor Society and a three-time all-academic performer.
 
CHLOE THORPE | East Ridge High School | Woodbury, Minn.
 
A 6-foot-4 middle blocker from Minnesota, Thorpe has spent the past two seasons at East Ridge High School after starting her career at Hudson High in Wisconsin. As a junior, Thorpe finished the year ranked fourth in the state of Minnesota in blocking.
 
As a freshman at Hudson High School, she was named the MVP before picking up All-Conference honors as a sophomore. After transferring to East Ridge, Thorpe earned All-Conference honors once again as a junior.
 
READY TO REPEAT
 
After a second consecutive undefeated season in Southland Conference play, the Islanders return to Conway, Ark., in search of a second tournament title and NCAA tournament berth.