Nov. 12, 2008
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington head volleyball coach Diane Seymour announced the signing of two high school student-athletes to National Letters of Intent today, which is the first official day of the early signing period.
The Mavericks, who lose only two seniors off their 2008 roster, will add Charae Grosser (Wharton, Texas) and Jessica Jiles (Plano, Texas) to their squad next season.
"We loaded up on outside hitters last year with that large class of six," Seymour said. "We will graduate one middle blocker with Michelle (Schwartz), so we felt this was a great opportunity to pick up two quality middle blockers with Charae Grosser and Jessica Jiles. We felt that these two middle blockers were too good to pass on."
Grosser, a 6-0 middle blocker/right side hitter, was a three-time All-District and three-time All-County performer at Boling High School. She has also shined academically earning First Team All-Academic honors the past three years.
"Charae is a very talented athlete that we are excited to get into the gym," Seymour said. "She jumps really easy and goes off one foot behind the setter really well. She comes from a quality club program where she has gone to nationals every summer. Her athletic ability is very dynamic. We are excited to have her."
Jiles is a 6-foot-2 middle blocker from Bishop Lynch High School, where she earned three varsity letters for head coach Tricia Roos.
Jiles has strong athletic blood lines with her father, Dwayne, playing eight years in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants, and with her cousin, Derek, also playing pro football with the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets. She also has an uncle who played four years of football at Arkansas.
Jiles had a standout prep career earning All-State, All-District and earned All-Tournament team recognition at both the district and state tournaments as a senior. She helped lead her high school to a conference, regional and state championship in 2008 with a 36-5 overall record.
As a junior, she was named First Team All-State and First Team All-District, along with being named the District Offensive Player of the Year. She broke onto the scene in 2006 earning First Team All-State, First Team All-District and receiving Newcomer of the Year accolades.
"Jessica Jiles, we are obviously thrilled to have her," Seymour said. "She is every bit of 6-foot-2, she is extremely athletic and a powerful kid. She is very emotional on the court, which is something that attracted us to her to begin with. When she gets a stuff block she is fired up, and when she gets a kill it is the same way."
Seymour feels that with 12 returners the signing of Grosser and Jiles will complete their recruiting class for 2009.
"We are still going to be extremely young on the roster for next year. Barring any injuries or someone getting home sick this completes who we are going to be for next year."
