The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Volleyball recruiting class ranked No. 1 by PrepVolleyball.com
05.25.2011 | Volleyball
May 25, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Volleyball team's three-player recruiting class, headlined by No. 2 recruit Katherine Bell, No. 5 recruit Haley Eckerman and No. 13 recruit Madelyn Hutson, has been ranked No. 1 nationally by PrepVolleyball.com. The 2011 recruiting class marks the sixth-straight season the Longhorns' class has garnered a top-five ranking.
"This is a gifted class that will attempt to fill the shoes of the talented alumni that paved the way before them," head coach Jerritt Elliott said. "Our fans will enjoy them and our returners will support and challenge them on a daily basis. Our staff is excited to get everyone together and start our 2011 season."
Hutson, a 6-6 middle blocker from Brentwood, Tenn. enrolled at UT in January 2011 and she will be joined on the Forty Acres by Bell, a 6-1 middle blocker from Mesquite, Texas and Eckerman, a 6-3 outside hitter from Waterloo, Iowa.
Bell, attends North Mesquite High School and plays club volleyball for the Texas Assault. The current high school senior is a four-time all-district honoree at North Mesquite, was named District MVP in 2009 and was named district blocker of the year in 2008. An excellent leaper, Bell possesses a vertical leap that allows her to touch 10'6".
Eckerman attends East High School and plays for the Iowa Rockets volleyball club. She owns four years of experience in the USA Developmental program and she is a two-time PrepVolleyball.com All-American. In all four years of her prep career she was chosen all-state first team, all-state elite, all- district, all-conference and all-metro.
Hutson attended Ravenwood High School and played for Impact Volleyball Club. A three-year veteran of the USA Volleyball program, she helped the U.S. to a gold medal at the 2008 NORCECA Girl's Youth Continental Championship. As a senior, Hutson helped guide her Ravenwood squad to a 49-8 record and the 2010 AAA State Championship one year after finishing as the state's runner-up. She was named a PrepVolleyball.com All-American in 2009 and has received all-district honors in each of her four prep seasons.
Texas' stellar recruiting class follows the second-ranked classes the Longhorns brought to the Forty Acres in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and its fifth-ranked classes in 2009 and 2010.
