Chisum Announces Signees For 2017

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State volleyball team and head coach Karen Chisum have announced the addition of three student-athletes during the early signing period.

All of the newest Bobcats hail from the state of Texas and will begin their respective careers as freshmen in 2017. The initial class includes two middle blockers and one setter.

The signees will look to help build upon a Texas State squad that has already clinched the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Sun Belt Conference Championship, which is slated for Nov. 18-20 and will be contested in Arlington, Texas.

“We are looking forward to having all three of these student-athletes with us for the next four-five years,” Chisum said. “This is a very versatile class, and we believe all three of our signees bring something very different to the table. I’m excited as a head coach to announce this class.”

Brooke Johnson – S – 5-5 – Tomball, Texas (Tomball HS)
Brooke Johnson is a four-year letterwinner at Tomball High School under the tutelage of Cheri Wallace. She is the reigning District 5A-20 Setter of the Year after winning the laurel in 2015, and she currently leads the district this season with 9.9 assists per set. She also boasts a 93.0 serving percentage and ranks fifth in the district in aces. She was named to the 2016 Nike Invitational All-Tournament Team and was lauded as the Houston Chronicle’s Player of the Week in September. She helped lead the Cougars to a district championship as a sophomore in 2014, and the team is 30-10 (12-2 district) this season. Johnson competes for Revolution Volleyball Club, and she helped her team qualify for the Junior Nationals in each of the last two years. She is also a three-year letterwinner as a member of the track team.

Johnson is an active member of the National Honor Society, and she volunteers at Vacation Bible School and at a summer camp for Medina Children’s House, which benefits underprivileged youth. She is the daughter of Clint and Vanessa Johnson, and she is set to pursue a career in biology when she arrives in San Marcos. Her father was an All-American golfer at Abilene Christian University, and her mother was a 2003 inductee into the New Mexico State University Athletics Hall of Fame after competing for the volleyball program from 1988-91.

Coach Chisum on Johnson: “Brooke is a fun, young lady. She is an amazing competitor who loves a challenge. She is a true quarterback on the court who leads by example, and she is one of those setters who teammates love to play for. We are very excited to have her work ethic in our gym on a daily basis. She’s small in stature but big in everything else. She will add that much needed grit and competitiveness in every practice and match.”

Tyeranee Scott – MB – 5-11 – Houston, Texas (Jersey Village HS)
Tyeranee Scott will don the maroon and gold of Texas State after a successful four-year career at Jersey Village High School. She is a four-year letterwinner and team captain for Coach Carrie Schneider, and she has been named to the All-Cypress-Fairbanks District team each of her four years as a member of the Falcons. She was also featured in VYPE Magazine’s “Houston’s Volleyballers” section earlier this year. As a senior, Scott leads the district in blocks with 1.30 per set, and she is also fifth overall with 406 kills on a .317 hitting percentage. She led JVHS to the playoffs in 2014, which was the team’s first postseason berth since 2006. She has also competed for the Houston Junior Volleyball Club for the last four years, which includes a 2014 Junior National Championship in the 15 USA Division. She played three years for Asics Willowbrook (2012-14) prior to her time with HJVC.

Scott is active in her community, helping with the PALS Mentoring Program, the Young Life Christian Ministry and the New Destiny Praise and Worship Center. She is the daughter of Terence and Alicia Scott, and she plans on majoring in physical therapy at Texas State. Her uncle, Jacob Green, was a member of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks for 14 years (1980-93) following a four-year collegiate career at Texas A&M (1976-80). She has a cousin, Joseph Bryant, who played with the Seahawks from 2008-13. He is currently an NFL free agent who has also spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills and Arizona Cardinals. He played for the Aggies from 2003-08.

Coach Chisum on Scott: “Tyeranee is a defensive middle blocker who has a high athletic ceiling. We think she has tremendous potential. I am looking forward to watching her become a potential all-conference middle blocker for the Bobcats.”

Effie Zielinski – MB – 6-2 – Leander, Texas (Vandegrift HS)
Effie Zielinski is a one-year letterwinner for Vandegrift High School after competing for three years at Kingwood High School. She currently plays for Kelly Skidmore and has helped lead the Vipers to a 39-9 record (10-2 district). VHS is currently the No. 90-ranked volleyball program in the entire nation and is ranked No. 20 in the state of Texas according to Max Preps. Zielinski was recently selected as an Under Armour All-American Honorable Mention and has posted 320 kills, 122 blocks and 93 digs.

During her time at Kingwood, Zielinski was a first team all-district performer and the district’s newcomer of the year. She was also named to the academic all-district team. She was named in 2015 to the Houston area’s Fab 50 list by VYPE Magazine. Zielinski competed for the Elite Houston Juniors Volleyball Club team, and the team won the USA Division national championship in 2013. The squad has also placed second at the national tournament in both 2014 (USA division) and 2016 (Open division). She is the daughter of Brian and Betsy Zielinski.

Coach Chisum on Zielinski: “Effie has the potential to be a dominating player. She is a strong athlete who we expect to compete for a starting position right away. She is versatile across the net and can play where she will be most needed. She is a true competitor who is physical and vocal.”