Dec. 6, 2017
AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn volleyball head coach Rick Nold announced the addition of six student-athletes for the 2018 season.
Joining the Tigers will be setter Mica Allison, outside hitters Taylor Rowland, Tatum Shipes, and Val Green, and defensive specialists Bella Rosenthall and Katie Persons.
"We are extremely excited to welcome this 2018 class to the Plains," Nold said. "This will be the highest rated class ever brought into our program and it will be fun for our fans to watch their development."
MICA ALLISON
Hometown: White Heath, Ill.
High School: Saint Thomas More
Club: Illini Elite VBC
Position: Setter
Height: 6-1
Highlights: 2017 USA Volleyball National Youth Team member ... 2017 AAU 17U Division Open Division MVP ... 2017 Second Team All-USA Today Preseason High School Girls Volleyball ... Ranked the No. 7 overall recruit in the country on the 2018 PrepVolleyball Senior Aces list ... 2017 AVCA Under Armour All-America third team ... 2015 USA Volleyball High Performance Select A1 ... Four-time First Team All-Conference ... Three-time First Team News Gazette All-Area ... Guided high school to first-ever Illinois State Championship in 2017 ... Led the Illini Elite VBC to a AAU 17 Open National Championship in 2017.
Nold on Allison: "Mica brings a unique set of skills as both a setter and a hitter that will have a tremendous impact during her time at Auburn. This summer, she made the USAV Youth team as a setter, but ended up starting as the six-rotation right-side hitter and played that position throughout the World Championship. More than that, Mica is a tremendous teammate and leader and we expect her to come in and make an immediate impact. She will be starting in the spring, which will help build team chemistry leading into the 2018 season.
VAL GREEN
Hometown: Oxford, Ohio
High School: Talawanda
Club: Elevation
Position: Outside Hitter
Height: 6-2
Highlights: Three-time Southwest Ohio Conference Volleyball Athlete of the Year ... Three-time Southwest Ohio Conference First Team honoree ... Three-time Talawanda Most Valuable Player.
Nold on Green: "Val is a talented player that we targeted early in the recruiting process. One of the first things I noticed about her is the potential to be a great six-rotation player and I'm excited to see her continue to develop that part of her game. I can't wait to get her on campus and I think our fans will have a lot of fun watching Val these next four years."
KATIE PERSONS
Hometown: Grand Rapids, Mich.
High School: East Grand Rapids
Club: Michigan Volleyball Academy
Position: Defensive Specialist
Height: 5-3
Highlights: Two-time All-Region honoree ... 2016 All-State Third Team ... 2017 All-State Honorable Mention ... 2017 First Team All-Area ... 2017 First Team All-Conference honoree ... 2015-2016 AVCA Phenom List.
Nold on Persons: "Katie is an absolute competitor that will be a great addition to our back row. After having her in town for our camp this summer, we quickly saw what a great player and person she was and how easily she fit in with the rest of our signees."
BELLA ROSENTHALL
Hometown: Yorktown, Ind.
High School: Yorktown
Club: Munciana
Position: Defensive Specialist
Height: 5-5
Highlights: 2017 Under Armour Watchlist ... 2015-2016 AVCA Phenom List ... 2016 AAU All-American ... 2017 All-State ... 2016 & 2017 HHC All-Conference ... 2016 & 2017 All-County ... 2016 MaxPreps/AVCA Player of the Week ... Led her team to three-straight Hoosier Heritage Conference championships (2014-2016) ... 2016 Indiana State Champions.
Nold on Rosenthall: "Bella is a big time player and gritty competitor that will make an impact on our program through her infectious leadership and elite skill. We expect her to come in and provide an immediate impact in the back row. She continues a run of defensive players coming from the Municiana club program that includes outgoing All-SEC player Jesse Earl and returning starter Payton White.
TAYLOR ROWLAND
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
High School: Cox Mill
Club: Carolina Juniors
Position: Outside Hitter
Height: 6-3
Highlights: 2017 MaxPreps First Team Preseason All-America ... Ranked the No. 30 overall player in the country on the 2018 PrepVolleyball Senior Aces list ... 2017 Under Armour Preseason All-America ... 2017 AVCA Under Armour All-America second team ... Best of Carolina's Invitational All-Tournament Team ... 2016 Gatorade North Carolina Player of the Year ... 2016 MaxPreps Underclass First Team All-America ... 2016 PrepVolleyball Top 35 Juniors ... 2016 PrepVolleyball All-American ... 2016 Independent Tribune Athlete of the Year ... 2016 All-Observer Volleyball Player of the Year ... 2016 USA Volleyball Youth National Team Prospect Training Program ... 2016 & 2015 Charlotte Observer First Team ... PrepVolleyball Sophomore 79 list ... 2015 High Performance National Team Prospect Training Program ... 2015 USA Volleyball Select A1 National Training Team Program.
Nold on Rowland: "Taylor is a true six-rotation attacker with excellent physicality, while also having the skill to impact the game with her ball control. She was the first player to commit to us in this class and that helped attract the rest of this group to join. Her talent and experience to go with the fact that she is starting in the spring will help her make an immediate impact to our program."
TATUM SHIPES
Hometown: Buford, Ga.
High School: Buford
Club: A5
Position: Outside Hitter
Height: 6-4
Highlights: Ranked the No. 34 overall player in the country on the 2018 PrepVolleyball Senior Ace list ... 2017 8-AAAAA Region Player of the Year ... 2017 PrepVolleyball Club All-American ... 2017 AVCA Under Armour All-America second team ... 2016 PrepVolleyball High School All-American ... Three-time First Team All-State ... Two-time Gwinnett Daily Post Volleyball Player of the Year (2016 & 2017) ... Three-time Gwinnett Daily Post Super Six Volleyball Team ... Three-time First Team All-Region honoree ... 2014-2017 AVCA Phenom List ... 2016 PrepVolleyball Club All-American ... 2015 MaxPreps Sophomore All-American ... Multiple All-Gwinnett County honoree ... 2015 PrepVolleyball Sophomore 79 list ... 2014 AAU 15 Classic All-American and Most Valuable Player ... Led Buford High School to back-to-back state championships -- 2015 & 2016 ... Four-straight Gwinnett County Tournament Championships ... Member of the 2016 USA Volleyball GJNC 16-Open National Championship team with A5 ... Four-straight regional championships.
Nold on Shipes: "Tatum brings height to our pin positions that we have never seen here at Auburn. We expect her to have a huge impact on our blocking, which has been a weakness for us in the past. We always prioritize recruits who have experienced a high level of success and Tatum's teams have had a long track record of winning championships."
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