Siloam Springs Volleyball Standout Signs With Texas

By Paul Boyd

Posted: November 14, 2009 at 4:54 a.m.

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SILOAM SPRINGS — Jerrit Elliott said it took him very little time to know he wanted Hannah Allison at the University of Texas.

The Texas coach saw her last year in a tournament in Dallas. He also thought it could be a tough sell with Allison’s sister, Sarah, already playing in the Big 12 at Kansas State.

But Allison made it oft cial Friday signing a national letter of intent to play for the Longhorns next season.

“We were watching about 7:30 at night off in a corner (court),” Elliott said. “It took me all of about 45 seconds to know I wanted her in our program. She’s special.”

Success is something thatAllison knows plenty about.

The 5-foot-11 setter/hitter ledSiloam Springs to four consecutive state titles and a record of 123-11. The two-time state tournamentMost Valuable Player and reigning Arkansas Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year said that success and thewinning attitude at Siloam will serve her well at Texas.

“I’ve only known winning and that’s the only thing we’re OK with around here,” Allison said. “I think that’s really unusual actually, that losing is absolutely not OK.”

Allison has also earned national acclaim, ranked as the No. 9 recruit in the country by prepvolleyball.com. She played for the U.S. Youth National Team at the FIVB Youth World Championships in Thailand. She was a member of the U.S. Youth National Training Team in 2008 and the U.S. A1 Team in 2007.

Elliott said her physicality as a blocker is something unusual for a setter, not to mention her leadership. He was also impressed with her play on the U.S. Youth National Team.

“She made everyone else around her better,” Elliott said. “That’s the big thing. She’s a great athlete, buther leadership on the floor was something very special.”

Allison was heavily recruited, choosing Texas over Stanford and Nebraska in the end. The Longhorns, currently ranked seccond in the country, lost in the national semifinals last season. She will graduate from high school in December and head for Austin in January.

Allison said Texas’ ability to take good athletes like herself and turning them into better volleyball players was one reason for her selection.

Siloam coach Rose Cheek said Texas coaches appeared to have a family-type relationship with their players like they did at Siloam.

“We want them to take good care of her,” Cheek said. “That was one of the things when we talked with them ... we have a special love for these kids and we want to continue this.”

Sports, Pages 7 on 11/14/2009

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