VB: JR transfer Tiffany Baker from Tenn!

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s102r18

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The University of Tennessee VB program is imploding with four players leaving early. One of those, 6'4" sophomore hitter Tiffany Baker (Carrollton , Texas / Hebron) tweeted last week that she is going to be a Longhorn. She will be a junior during the 2013 season.

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Yesterday, however, she tweeted "I dont even know where im for sure going yet," but the context of that comment isn't clear.

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On a side note: Nebraska picked up the biggest prize from the Vol exodus, senior-to-be Kelsey Robinson. In a reply to Tiffany's "announcement," Kelsey mentioned she is looking forward to playing Tiffany in the preseason, which suggests there could be a 'Horns / 'Huskers match on the schedule in 2013.

Welcome home and welcome to Austin, Tiffany, if this is where you are headed.

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Tiffany Baker says she has signed her scholarship agreement. I don't know much about the scholarship signing rules, but we haven't hit the start of the signing period for fall admissions. Am I right in concluding this means she should be on campus for the current (Spring 2013) semester (assuming her application is approved)?

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The volleyball early signing period was this past November for the class of 2013 seniors. Texas signed Chloe Collins and Chiaka Ogbogu; Coach Elliott has not issued an official release on his signings.

Baker would be considered a transfer. Volleyball transfer rules do not require her to sit a full year, as long as she received a full release from Tennessee (which it appears she did). She would be eligible to compete in the Fall.

Some have said she is going to have surgery (or already did) so that would be the only hurdle as to not competing next Fall.
 
Yes, I've heard a rumor of a knee injury that could prevent her from playing in the fall. If the rumor is true it makes the wisdom of this move questionable.

I was unclear in my comment about the signing period. I know about the November early signing period when baseball and volleyball players normally sign. That doesn't extend indefinitely, though, does it? Because the football players who sign in the Spring have to wait until a "first day" of a signing period that begins in February, if I understand things correctly. So I'm thinking that if her application is accepted she will register before the deadline next week, start attending classes this semester, participate in Spring practice, and go to Europe with the team (if she's healthy).

Reports on volleytalk are that all four early-departing Tennessee players received a release, so she should have two years to play for Texas.

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Well,. the surgery/injury may be something where she can recover in plenty of time to play in the Fall. Even if she can't, and ends up taking a medical redshirt, she would be a great candidate to fill in for Bailey after she moves on. I rarely question Coach Elliott's decision when it comes to recruiting and building his depth and looking both short-term and long-term. I trust he knows his plans for Tiffany :) This could be a true "bonus" that fell in his lap.

Fall signing period in November runs about 1-2 weeks; then, it ends. The Spring signing period begins in April or May. But, that has nothing to do with Tiffany as she is Spring semester transfer, not a high school recruit for the class of 2013 who is sigining an LOI for the first time.

Technically, you can only ever sign one true LOI; her paperwork with Texas is different than that, but does require forms concerning financial aid of some type as she will be a scholarship player from what I understand.

Regardless, I am thrilled she is transferring to Texas. She seems like a very versatile player, particularly in the front row. Wishing her happiness and success at Texas!
 
Someone posted this on Volleytalk:

Tiffany Baker tweeted that she is heading to Austin today. She also said that she has a torn meniscus and some cartilage damage in her knee and will get it scoped once she settles in.

I hope she and Nicole Dalton (hip surgery) both have a speedy recovery.

It will be interesting to see who practices on the right-side this spring. I bet Khat Bell will get a good look to potentially replace Sha'Dare and play all the way around.
 
If you're going by Prepvolleyball.com Senior Ace rankings (which I think you are) Amy Neal was rated #18 and Sarah Palmer #73.

That's an impressive list nonetheless!
 
I believe Tiffany was the Texas and National High School Player of the Year as voted by Gatorade in 2010. Part of that might have been that her Lewisville Hebron team won the 5A state title that season; but, she is talented nonetheless.

She played MB in high school, and as I watched her on TV in the state tourney, I was pretty dispapointed she wasn't coming to Texas as she seemed to have a lot of quickness.

I remember asking around as to why she had chosen Tennessee, and apparently, her club coach was a former Lady Vol assistant coach.
 
At the Erwin Center event celebrating the natty, Coach Elliott called Tiffany proof that the coaches can make mistakes; it seemed to suggest Texas didn't target her when she was in high school.

There had been speculation when Tiffany first arrived in Austin that she was going to be able to avoid surgery. If medical staff here told her that it may have been a costly mistake (delaying the inevitable by a few months). She has now had the surgery and it looks unlikely she will play in 2013.

Looking forward to seeing her in '14 and '15.

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Tiffany was at the exhibition with Wichita State. She was on crutches and decked out in Longhorn gear. Also introduced as part of the team.
 
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