Volleyball Adds To 2019 Class

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – University of Memphis volleyball head coach Sean Burdette announced Wednesday that Jada Birkel, Gigi Crescenzo and Mia Migliore are joining the Tigers program in 2019.

The trio brings the Tigers' 2019 class to six. In mid-November, Sabria Cooper, Anna Hayes and Caitlin Schultz announced they were coming to Memphis next year.

The following are brief biographical sketches and Burdette's comments on Birkel, Crescenzo and Migliore:

Jada Birkel
RS / 6-0
Austin, Texas / Westlake High School
Club: Austin Juniors Volleyball Club

Played her final two prep seasons at Westlake High School … Transferred to Westlake prior to her junior campaign, but had to play on the junior varsity squad in 2017 due to University Interscholastic League (UIL) rules …

As a senior, had 365 kills, a .358 hitting percentage and 78 total blocks in 116 sets played … Helped lead Westlake High School to a 37-10 overall record and a 17-1 District 25-6A mark … The Chaparrals won the district crown, the program's 15^th-straight district title … Westlake advanced to the area finals of the UIL 6A state playoffs … Served as a co-captain for the Chaparrals … Named the District 25-6A Most Valuable Player …

Prior to Westlake, played at St. Michael's her freshman and sophomore seasons … Helped lead St. Michael's to the 2016 Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) Class 5A state title, the program's first since 2003 … At St. Michael's, earned 2016 TAPPS Class 5A All-State honorable mention and 2015 (3-4A) and 2016 (4-5A) All-District first team accolades.

Coach Burdette's comments on Birkel: "Jada is a unique talent, and she is multi-positional. She has played right side the past couple of seasons, and also has had some time in the middle. Jada is dynamic, athletic with a quick arm and is going to be able to score points for us. The greatest asset Jada has is the ability to be moved around and use her in different offensive options. I got to coach her mother several years ago at the University of Pittsburgh, and that's a little connection there. To see Jada's progress and transformation the past year-and-a-half has been great."

Gigi Crescenzo
DS-OH / 5-10
St. Charles, Ill. / St. Charles North High School
Club: Club Fusion Batavia

Four-year starter at St. Charles North High School … Finished career with 596 kills and 619 digs in 202 sets played … Also had 72 aces and 72 total blocks … Helped lead the North Stars to a 126-25 overall record and a 29-3 conference mark in her four seasons …

As a senior in 2018, helped lead the North Stars to the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 4A St. Charles North Regional title … Earned All-DuKane Conference honors … Named to the Courier-News All-Area Team … Logged 257 kills, 293 digs and 32 aces in 2018 …

A 2017 Courier-News All-Area second team pick … Third on team with 211 kills … Also had 305 digs, 35 blocks and 32 aces … Helped lead the North Stars to a 36-5 record and a fourth-place finish in the IHSA Class 4 state tournament … The fourth-place finish was the first state trophy in program history … A 2017 News-Gazette All-State honorable mention selection … An All-Upstate Eight Conference (River Division) honoree her junior season.

Coach Burdette's comments on Crescenzo: "Gigi is a hybrid player. She's played in a fast system as an outside hitter. She's a dynamic attacker and someone who is a six-rotation player with great ball control. She can slide into an outside hitter slot and also move into an attacking backcourt role. She is a very good serve-receive player and is good defensively. She will provide some swings and kills out of the back row."

Mia Migliore
DS / 5-4
Covington, La. / Archbishop Hannah High School
Club: Infinity Volleyball Club

Helped lead Archbishop Hannah High School to the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) Division IV state championship in 2018 … Played for the top-ranked team in the state … The Hawks finished with a 40-6 record … Named to the 2018 Clarion Herald Elite Volleyball Team …

A 2017 Louisiana Volleyball Coaches Association (LVCA) Division IV All-State pick … Helped Archbishop Hannah reach the LHSAA state semifinals … Led Hawks with 397 digs and added 52 assists and 49 aces … Named to the inaugural St. Tammany Farmer All-Parish team in 2017 …

In the summer of 2016, led the VIA 15s volleyball team to the 43^rd annual National Volleyball Club Championship at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla. … Team went 13-0 in match play at the AAU National Championship Tournament and sported a 53-2 overall record for that season … Earned the tournament's All-Star Award …

Named to the 2016 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Phenom List … Also selected to the 2016 Junior Volleyball Association Watch List.

Coach Burdette's comments on Migliore: "I'm very excited about Mia. She played with a club team out of Jackson, Mississippi, that was coached by a former Mississippi State head coach. To watch her progress all season was special and that culminated at the AAU National Championships, where her team made the final four in the 17 Open Division and she was named All-American at libero. She is a player that is going to bring tenacity on defense and has a knack on serve-receive. She comes from a volleyball family that is invested in both indoor and beach volleyball."

University of Memphis Athletics

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