Volleyball Announces Signees

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – University of Memphis volleyball head coach Sean Burdette announced Thursday that Bailey Houlihan and Loren Robertson are joining the Tigers program in 2020.

"Although this is a small class in numbers at this time, it is a class that adds to our competitive and talent level in the gym," said Burdette, who is in his second season at Memphis in 2019. "Bailey and Loren are competitive players and will draw other talent into this and future classes."

Alexa Wharton, assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, added, "Loren and Bailey are game changers. They are everything we look for in student-athletes. They are smart, fierce competitors and great teammates. Not to mention, they are dynamic, and highly skilled volleyball players who will make an immediate impact in our program.

"Both Loren and Bailey are extremely talented, incredible leaders, and that has been reflected in the many achievements they have had in their careers. I am really excited about the success they will continue to have and everything they will bring to the Memphis program."

The following are brief biographical sketches and Burdette's comments on Houlihan and Robertson:

Bailey Houlihan
L / 5-5
Naperville, Ill. / Neuqua High School
Club: 1^stAlliance

Three-year member of the Neuqua High School varsity squad … Helped lead the Wildcats to three-straight 20-win seasons from 2017-19 … Played in 251 career sets … Collected 1,302 digs and recorded 99 service aces …

The Wildcats won a share of the 2019 DuPage Valley Conference (DVC) crown … Helped team advance to the 2019 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Bolingbrook Sectional regional final match … 2019 honors include: All-DuPage Valley Conference, All-Academic andUnder Armour All-AmericanWatch List … Also named one of the top players in the state by Illinois Prep Volleyball …

Other honors include: 2018 News-GazetteAll-State Special Mention 50,2018 All-DuPage Valley Conference, 2018 Naperville SunAll-Area honorable mentionand 2017 All-DuPage Valley Conferencehonorable mention …

Named team MVP of Neuqua High School's sophomore squad as a freshman in 2016 … Served as team captain for the Wildcats and her 1^stAlliance 17 Black team … Earned MVP honors at AAU 14 years tournament, where her squad took third place … Also won three sand tournament titles in an open division…

Served as Senior Advisory for her freshman class… Qualified for the Junior Olympics in gymnastics in 2011 at the age of 10 … Was a competitive gymnast for seven years … Active in the Mawi Learning Leadership Program… Competed in 3 triathlons.

Coach Burdette's comments on Houlihan: "I truly believe we have found one of the gems of this recruiting class. Like Loren, we were able to identify Bailey early on in the recruiting process and were able to watch the impact she had on her 1^st Alliance club team. Bailey is a very dynamic player both on and off the court with her athleticism and personality. She has great platform control and is able to cover a lot of space on the court. She is equally adept in serve receive as a defender which will allow us to be in system more and play with a faster tempo offensively. She is another winner in this class and loves to compete."

Lauren Robertson
S / 5-8
Memphis, Tenn. / Briarcrest Christian School
Club: Memphis Juniors / Infinity

Starred for the Briarcrest Christian School varsity squad in 2018 and 2019 … Helped lead the Saints to back-to-back Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) Division II-AA state championships … The Saints compiled a 79-6 record in her two seasons on varsity … The program also won consecutive Division II-AA West district titles both seasons with perfect 8-0 records …

In her two seasons, played in 227 sets and handed out 2,588 assists … Also posted 101 service aces, 530 digs and 137 kills …

2019 honors include: TSSAA Division II-AA state tournament MVP and MaxPreps.com preseason All-America Team …

Other honors include: American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Phemon List all four years … Two-time nominee (2018, 2019) for the Tennessee Gatorade state Player of the Year … Named the AVCA National Player of the Week once in 2018 … Earned Tennessee Player of the Week honors twice in both 2018 and 2019 …

Played club volleyball with both Infinity and Memphis Juniors … Helped lead the Infinity team to a fifth-place finish at the 2018 AAU Nationals.

Coach Burdette's comments on Robertson: "I am really excited about the addition of Loren to our program. Not only is she one of the best setters in the nation, she is also a Memphian! She has won back-to-back state championships for Briarcrest and has been recognized nationally for her success. It is important to recruit and keep the best players in the area home. From Day 1 in the recruiting process with Loren, she has fully understood and bought into the championship vision for the program that our staff and team have. Loren is a natural leader, tenacious competitor and controls the offensive tempo and systems well. Loren is the type of player that draws in other good players."

University of Memphis Athletics

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