Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Four to Join MT Volleyball in 2018
4/11/2018 8:13:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MURFREESBORO, TENN. – Head Coach Chuck Crawford announced the addition of four student-athletes for the 2018 season on Wednesday.
Joining the Blue Raiders will be setter Sarah Sumida, outside hitters Emma Grever and Samaria Lawson Body and middle blocker Julia Valdez.
SARAH SUMIDA
Hometown: Chattanooga, Tenn.
High School: Baylor High School
Club: Choo Choo City Volleyball
Position: Setter
Highlights: Sumida is a five-year varsity letter winner at Baylor High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Tennessee product led her high school team to two state championships, as well as, two state runner-up titles. Sumida earned the honor of the State Tournament MVP in 2017. Similarly, Sumida was named the All-Region MVP (2017) and to the All-Region Team Division II AA (2016, 2017) and to the All-State Team (2016, 2017). In 2016, the Chattanooga native was named to the 2016 AVCA Phenom List. To end her high school career, Sumida set the TSSAA record for the most career assists with 5,262 helpers. Throughout her five-years as a varsity letter winner, Sumida and her team claimed the region champion title each year.
Crawford on Sumida: "Sarah Sumida is great addition to our family here at Middle Tennessee. We first met Sarah at the TSSAA volleyball tournament hosted at Middle Tennessee and have been impressed ever since. She is an incredible setter with impeccable hands between her release on the ball and her feel for the position; she will be a great asset on the floor. Sarah is a natural lefty, so from an attacking stand point she has an advantage in that regard".
EMMA GREVER
Hometown: Mechanicsburg, Penn.
High School: Cumberland Valley High School
Club: Revolution Volleyball Club, East Coast Power Volleyball Club
Position: Outside Hitter
Highlights: Grever is a three-year varsity letter winner at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania product aided her team to the 2015 State semi-finals and the Mid-Penn Runner ups in 2017. Grever was named the 2017 Mid Penn Commonwealth Player of the Year while receiving District 3 First Team and All-State First Team honors. Likewise, Grever earned Mid Penn First Team Honors (2015, 2016), All-State and District 3 First Team (2016) and District 3 Second Team (2015) accolades throughout her high school tenure.
Crawford on Grever: "Emma Grever is our first signee of the 2018 class and is a physically gifted player. She is a senior in high school but looks like she is a junior in college—just muscularity. Emma is an extremely gifted athlete, physically. She jumps well and has a great arm and will fit our outside position well. Emma has a great work ethic that is second to none and we are excited for her to get on campus".
SAMIRA LAWSON BODY
Hometown: Grossrosseln, Germany
Club: Allianz MTV Stuttgart II
Position: Outside Hitter
Highlights: Lawson Body is a current member of the second division Bundesliga apart of the Allianz MTV Stuttgart II club. Similarly, Lawson Body is a member of the U18 German junior national beach volleyball team. In 2018, she was named the second division Bundesliga MVP. Lawson Body placed ninth with her partner in the 2017 German Beach Championship.
Crawford on Lawson Body: "Samira Lawson Body currently plays in the second division of the Bundesliga which is extremely high-level play. With Samira playing in the second league and a starter in the second division and a member of the U18 Junior National German beach team she has an incredible ball control skills. We are excited as a staff because she will be able to add her volleyball IQ and her knowledge and understanding of the sport to our team".
JULIA VALDEZ
Hometown: Midlothian, Texas
High School: Midlothian Heritage High School
Club: Texas Image Volleyball
Position: Middle Blocker
Highlights: Valdez was a part of the Midlothian Heritage High School 2016 and 2017 Bi-District teams that advanced to the Regional Semifinals each season. Valdez has earned many accolades during her career including the 2018 TGCA All-State, UIL First-Team All-District (2016, 2017) and UIL All-District Hitter (2017). The Texas native tallied 950 kills throughout her high school career to hit on a .419 clip. Likewise, Valdez earned the All-Tournament team accolades during the regional championships.
Crawford on Valdez: "Julia Valdez is extremely dynamic. She can jump incredibly well and get a great distance off the floor, fast. She has a quick arm with a great range. Julia can go from outside, to right side, to the middle and play each position effectively—wherever you put her she can function at a high level".
Joining the Blue Raiders will be setter Sarah Sumida, outside hitters Emma Grever and Samaria Lawson Body and middle blocker Julia Valdez.
SARAH SUMIDA
Hometown: Chattanooga, Tenn.
High School: Baylor High School
Club: Choo Choo City Volleyball
Position: Setter
Highlights: Sumida is a five-year varsity letter winner at Baylor High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Tennessee product led her high school team to two state championships, as well as, two state runner-up titles. Sumida earned the honor of the State Tournament MVP in 2017. Similarly, Sumida was named the All-Region MVP (2017) and to the All-Region Team Division II AA (2016, 2017) and to the All-State Team (2016, 2017). In 2016, the Chattanooga native was named to the 2016 AVCA Phenom List. To end her high school career, Sumida set the TSSAA record for the most career assists with 5,262 helpers. Throughout her five-years as a varsity letter winner, Sumida and her team claimed the region champion title each year.
Crawford on Sumida: "Sarah Sumida is great addition to our family here at Middle Tennessee. We first met Sarah at the TSSAA volleyball tournament hosted at Middle Tennessee and have been impressed ever since. She is an incredible setter with impeccable hands between her release on the ball and her feel for the position; she will be a great asset on the floor. Sarah is a natural lefty, so from an attacking stand point she has an advantage in that regard".
EMMA GREVER
Hometown: Mechanicsburg, Penn.
High School: Cumberland Valley High School
Club: Revolution Volleyball Club, East Coast Power Volleyball Club
Position: Outside Hitter
Highlights: Grever is a three-year varsity letter winner at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania product aided her team to the 2015 State semi-finals and the Mid-Penn Runner ups in 2017. Grever was named the 2017 Mid Penn Commonwealth Player of the Year while receiving District 3 First Team and All-State First Team honors. Likewise, Grever earned Mid Penn First Team Honors (2015, 2016), All-State and District 3 First Team (2016) and District 3 Second Team (2015) accolades throughout her high school tenure.
Crawford on Grever: "Emma Grever is our first signee of the 2018 class and is a physically gifted player. She is a senior in high school but looks like she is a junior in college—just muscularity. Emma is an extremely gifted athlete, physically. She jumps well and has a great arm and will fit our outside position well. Emma has a great work ethic that is second to none and we are excited for her to get on campus".
SAMIRA LAWSON BODY
Hometown: Grossrosseln, Germany
Club: Allianz MTV Stuttgart II
Position: Outside Hitter
Highlights: Lawson Body is a current member of the second division Bundesliga apart of the Allianz MTV Stuttgart II club. Similarly, Lawson Body is a member of the U18 German junior national beach volleyball team. In 2018, she was named the second division Bundesliga MVP. Lawson Body placed ninth with her partner in the 2017 German Beach Championship.
Crawford on Lawson Body: "Samira Lawson Body currently plays in the second division of the Bundesliga which is extremely high-level play. With Samira playing in the second league and a starter in the second division and a member of the U18 Junior National German beach team she has an incredible ball control skills. We are excited as a staff because she will be able to add her volleyball IQ and her knowledge and understanding of the sport to our team".
JULIA VALDEZ
Hometown: Midlothian, Texas
High School: Midlothian Heritage High School
Club: Texas Image Volleyball
Position: Middle Blocker
Highlights: Valdez was a part of the Midlothian Heritage High School 2016 and 2017 Bi-District teams that advanced to the Regional Semifinals each season. Valdez has earned many accolades during her career including the 2018 TGCA All-State, UIL First-Team All-District (2016, 2017) and UIL All-District Hitter (2017). The Texas native tallied 950 kills throughout her high school career to hit on a .419 clip. Likewise, Valdez earned the All-Tournament team accolades during the regional championships.
Crawford on Valdez: "Julia Valdez is extremely dynamic. She can jump incredibly well and get a great distance off the floor, fast. She has a quick arm with a great range. Julia can go from outside, to right side, to the middle and play each position effectively—wherever you put her she can function at a high level".
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