May 30, 2006
The Georgia Tech volleyball team had its 2006 recruiting class named 21st in the nation by prepvolleyball.com. It marks the third time in the last five years that Tech has had its recruiting class ranked in the Top 25 as the 2005 class was ranked No. 8 and the 2002 class was ranked No. 19.
The Yellow Jackets were also the highest ranked school in the Atlantic Coast Conference, narrowly beating out North Carolina (28), Florida State (29), Duke (highest honorable mention) and Virginia (highest honorable mention).
This year’s class consists of Erin Birmingham, Chrissy DeMichelis and Brittany Roderick. Each one was ranked in the top 150 of prepvolleyball.com “Senior Aces” list and two of the three were listed in the top 80.
“We’re very proud of our incoming recruiting class and think that they are going to add a tremendous amount of capability and firepower to our program,” said head coach Bond Shymansky, who begins his fifth season as the head coach of the Yellow Jackets. “We always feel like we have one of the best recruiting classes and are so excited about the new additions to our roster. Each player adds a different dimension to our team with speed, power and attitude. We are confident that they will be exactly what we need to make another run for the NCAA title.”
Birmingham is a 6-1 middle hitter who was the No. 79 ranked high school senior on prepvolleyball.com on the Senior Aces list and was named to the “Fab 50” list by Volleyball Magazine earlier this year.
DeMichelis is a 6-1 outside hitter who has been listed by prepvolleyball.com as the No. 34 prospect on the Senior Aces list, as well as the No. 15 outside hitter in her class by the same organization. DeMichelis is the younger sister of current Yellow Jacket Laura DeMichelis, marking the first time in school history that sisters have played on the same team.
Roderick is a 6-1 middle hitter who led Lake Highland high school to two state titles and was included as a “Top 150” prospect on the Senior Aces List.
Player Pos. Ht. Hometown (High School) prepvolleyball.com RankingErin Birmingham MH 6-1 Riverside, Mo. (Park Hill South) No. 79Chrissy DeMichelis OH 6-1 Aurora, Colo. (Overland) No. 34Brittany Roderick MH 6-1 Orlando, Fla. (Lake Highland) Senior Aces List
Comments on Georgia Tech recruiting class according to prepvolleyball.com “The Yellow Jackets had a down year in 2005, struggling to a 16-15 record, and graduated libero Jen Randall and setter Lindsey Laband. The good news is that Georgia Tech has rising sophomores Michelle Kandell and Allie Niekamp ready to step into those roles, all of the offense returns and the Wramblin Wreck gets three more players who could contribute early in their careers. Birmingham is the most ready to make a fast impact in Atlanta. She is a quick middle with a lightning fast arm. DeMichelis, whose sister already plays at Georgia Tech, is a taller version of the skywalking outside who contributed 346 kills last year as a frosh. Finally, Roderick is a strong natural blocker, exceptional off of one foot and a good fit in Georgia Tech’s system.”
