Brown happy to be headed to KU

By Ryan Wood     Nov 14, 2003

Special to the Journal-World
Baldwin High's Emily Brown, sitting, savors the moment after officially signing a national letter of intent to play volleyball at Kansas University. Brown was joined Thursday at the high school by, standing from left, her mother and Baldwin coach, Jill; her father, Dan; and BHS assistant coach Terry Twombly.

? With one signature, what seemed to be Emily Brown’s lifelong destiny became reality, and everyone around her seemed to walk away a little happier.

Brown, a Baldwin High senior, signed a letter of intent Thursday to play volleyball at Kansas University. She joins a long list of Jayhawks in the family, including her mother, Jill, Baldwin’s volleyball coach; and aunt, Jo Huntsinger, Lawrence High’s volleyball coach. Both are former KU players.

“I’m so excited,” Emily Brown said. “When I committed, I thought it was all over, but now that I signed, it’s really over.”

Her full-ride scholarship is the reward for a sensational high school career at Baldwin. As a senior, Brown led the Bulldogs to a 41-3 record and state runner-up finish. She had 421 kills, 411 assists, 104 blocks, 67 service aces and a .520 hitting efficiency this season, spending time at both setter and outside hitter.

As a junior, Brown had 411 kills and 354 assists, leading the Bulldogs to a 31-10 record and state tournament appearance.

“It is rare to find an athlete who combines such great size, athleticism and versatility, but that is exactly what you get with Emily,” KU volleyball coach Ray Bechard said. “She is arguably the state’s top volleyball prospect and will impact Jayhawk volleyball immediately in a number of ways.”

Brown, who at 6-foot-2 also excels in basketball, seemed to have favored KU all along, even when Nebraska and Missouri came calling.

“I remember I went to a (KU) match soon after I realized I wouldn’t be playing basketball in college,” Brown said. “And I told my mom, ‘I’m going to KU so I can play two years with that girl.'”

That girl — KU sophomore and Brazil native Josi Lima — was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year soon after Brown took notice of her talent. Another Brazilian, Janaina Correa, joined the Jayhawks this year, and was one of KU’s top players before falling victim to injury.

KU is 17-9 this season, including 9-6 in the Big 12 Conference.

But rest assured, Brown knows all about her future team. She goes to as many KU matches as possible, and has gone to Bechard’s volleyball camps since her freshman year.

Her signature Thursday made sure she would join the Jayhawks next year — which means her family will come to as many KU matches as possible.

“This is really nice,” Jill Brown said. “She’s going to be so close to home. I can’t wait.”

Bechard also announced the signing of Tessa Jones, a 6-0 hitter from Lee’s Summit, Mo., and Kristin Buehler, a 6-2 middle blocker from Parkville, Mo.

Softball corrals four

Four high school softball players have signed national letters of intent, KU coach Tracy Bunge announced Thursday.

The future Jayhawks are: outfielder Cyndi Duran of Flowing Wells (Ariz.) High, catcher Elle Pottorf of Washburn Rural, left-handed pitcher Christina Ross of Valencia (Calif.) and outfielder Jackie Vasquez of Catalina (Ariz.) Foothills.

“I’m extremely pleased with the quality of the players and people in this class,” Bunge said. “By landing this class we have solved some depth issues in the outfield as well as improved our overall team speed. It will be fun to watch Elle and Christina work together in the future, and I’m looking forward to having a different look with the lefty on the mound.”

Tennis signs one

Anna Jackson, a senior at Milton High in Alpharetta, Ga., has signed with the Jayhawks, KU tennis coach Amy Hall said Thursday.

Jackson, who finished the season ranked 15th nationally, should help KU replace its three seniors.

Brown happy to be headed to KU

By Joy Ludwig     Nov 14, 2003

Special to the Journal-World
Baldwin High's Emily Brown, sitting, savors the moment after officially signing a national letter of intent to play volleyball at Kansas University. Brown was joined Thursday at the high school by, standing from left, her mother and Baldwin coach, Jill; her father, Dan; and BHS assistant coach Terry Twombly.

? With one signature, what seemed to be Emily Brown’s lifelong destiny became reality, and everyone around her seemed to walk away a little happier.

Brown, a Baldwin High senior, signed a letter of intent Thursday to play volleyball at Kansas University. She joins a long list of Jayhawks in the family, including her mother, Jill, Baldwin’s volleyball coach; and aunt, Jo Huntsinger, Lawrence High’s volleyball coach. Both are former KU players.

“I’m so excited,” Emily Brown said. “When I committed, I thought it was all over, but now that I signed, it’s really over.”

Her full-ride scholarship is the reward for a sensational high school career at Baldwin. As a senior, Brown led the Bulldogs to a 41-3 record and state runner-up finish. She had 421 kills, 411 assists, 104 blocks, 67 service aces and a .520 hitting efficiency this season, spending time at both setter and outside hitter.

As a junior, Brown had 411 kills and 354 assists, leading the Bulldogs to a 31-10 record and state tournament appearance.

“It is rare to find an athlete who combines such great size, athleticism and versatility, but that is exactly what you get with Emily,” KU volleyball coach Ray Bechard said. “She is arguably the state’s top volleyball prospect and will impact Jayhawk volleyball immediately in a number of ways.”

Brown, who at 6-foot-2 also excels in basketball, seemed to have favored KU all along, even when Nebraska and Missouri came calling.

“I remember I went to a (KU) match soon after I realized I wouldn’t be playing basketball in college,” Brown said. “And I told my mom, ‘I’m going to KU so I can play two years with that girl.'”

That girl — KU sophomore and Brazil native Josi Lima — was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year soon after Brown took notice of her talent. Another Brazilian, Janaina Correa, joined the Jayhawks this year, and was one of KU’s top players before falling victim to injury.

KU is 17-9 this season, including 9-6 in the Big 12 Conference.

But rest assured, Brown knows all about her future team. She goes to as many KU matches as possible, and has gone to Bechard’s volleyball camps since her freshman year.

Her signature Thursday made sure she would join the Jayhawks next year — which means her family will come to as many KU matches as possible.

“This is really nice,” Jill Brown said. “She’s going to be so close to home. I can’t wait.”

Bechard also announced the signing of Tessa Jones, a 6-0 hitter from Lee’s Summit, Mo., and Kristin Buehler, a 6-2 middle blocker from Parkville, Mo.

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