University of Houston Athletics
Rehr Adds Three Freshmen for 2020
5/27/2020 11:15:00 AM | Volleyball
Cougars add a middle blocker, libero and setter
HOUSTON – The University of Houston Volleyball program has added three freshmen with Brooklyn Gamble, Annie Cooke and Sarah Martinez joining the 2020 roster, head coach David Rehr announced Wednesday.
"We are excited about our 2020 recruiting class," Rehr said. "These three young ladies will help continue the success of Houston Volleyball and we can't wait to see what they do both on and off the court to represent our program."
Below is an in-depth look on the three signees, as well as how Rehr believes each one will contribute to the program.
BROOKLYN GAMBLE
Middle Blocker / 6-1
Cypress, Texas
Cypress Ranch HS
REHR ON GAMBLE
"Brooklyn is a powerful hitter that has the ability to play multiple positions for our team. Her competitiveness and strength will be an asset for not just her future, but the future of our program as well."
HIGH SCHOOL
Helped lead her team to a fifth-place finish in state, which resulted in being the district runner-up in 2017 … Completed back-to-back top-three finishes in district with her third-place standing in 2018 … Improved her statistics every year she competed in high school, starting with 43 blocks and 51 kills in 2017 and finishing with 105 blocks, 274 kills, along with a .336 hitting percentage in 2019.
PERSONAL
Daughter of Gregory and Alycia Linder … Has two older brothers … Her brother, Tyler, swam competitively for Cuesta College … Majoring in psychology with career aspirations to become a criminal psychologist … Says her mother's work ethic is her biggest influence … Enjoys horseback riding in her free time … Her aunt is a celebrity hair stylist who has worked with Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton.
SARAH MARTINEZ
Libero / 5-4
Flower Mound, Texas
Flower Mound HS
REHR ON MARTINEZ
"Sarah is a proven winner who is a Texas state champion and has won at the highest level. She will compete for a job on our team immediately. Sarah is an excellent defender and has the on-court leadership needed to compete at this level."
HIGH SCHOOL
A four-year letterman who led her squad to a 43-7 record and a state championship in 2018 … Followed that with a 41-4 senior season that resulted in becoming the district, bi-district and area champions in 2019 … Finished out her high school career averaging 5.9 digs per set in her junior and senior seasons … Earned three First-Team All-District accolades from 2017-19, which came with back-to-back District Defensive Player of the Year honors from 2018-19 … Awarded TAVC 6A Newcomer of the Year in 2018 … Named to the Texas Sports Writers Association All-State First Team … Landed a spot on the Under Armour Preseason Watch List, having earned a nomination to become an Under Armour All-American … Awarded the Dallas Morning News All-Area Libero of the Year in 2018 and 2019.
PERSONAL
Daughter Michael and Lylian Martinez … Has a younger sister … Her father, was involved with the Penn State football program while in college … Majoring in psychology with ambitions to become a child psychologist or sports psychologist … Lists her parents as her biggest influence … Enjoys working out and reading, along with spending time with her family and friends in her free time … Has moved to seven different cities (six states) in her lifetime.
ANNIE COOKE
Setter / 5-11
The Woodlands, Texas
The Woodlands College Park HS
REHR ON COOKE
"I have known Annie for a couple of years now, and she is a standout leader and an excellent setter. We expect great things from Annie in her future as a Houston Volleyball player."
HIGH SCHOOL
Led her team to a district finish of fourth or higher in all four years, including a district championship and a 30-6 record her senior season … A two-time District 15-6A First Team honoree … Appeared on the AVCA Phenom List three times … Awarded a spot on the TAVC All-American list in 2019 … Named to the PrepVolleyball National Watch List in 2017 and 2018 … An AVCA High School All-Region Team honoree in 2019, where she also landed a sport on the TGCA 6A All-American squad … Finished her high school career being awarded the All-Montgomery Country Co-Offensive MVP in 2019.
PERSONAL
Daughter of Michele and Alan Cooke … Has three older sisters … Her father, was a competitive rower at Columbia University and her sister, Meg, competed for the swim team at Texas A&M … Majoring in kinesiology with aspirations to become a pediatric oncology nurse … Volunteers with Hope Beyond Bridges, an organization that benefits with homeless community in Houston … Enjoys spending time with her sisters and playing the ukulele.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Volleyball on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarVB, and "Like" UHCougarVB on Facebook.
JOIN POINT HOUSTON CLUB
Fans can help support the Houston Volleyball program by joining the Point HOUSTON Club. To find out more information about the Point HOUSTON Club, visit UHCougars.com or call Cougar Pride at (713) 743-GoUH.
– UHCougars.com –
"We are excited about our 2020 recruiting class," Rehr said. "These three young ladies will help continue the success of Houston Volleyball and we can't wait to see what they do both on and off the court to represent our program."
Below is an in-depth look on the three signees, as well as how Rehr believes each one will contribute to the program.
Middle Blocker / 6-1
Cypress, Texas
Cypress Ranch HS
REHR ON GAMBLE
"Brooklyn is a powerful hitter that has the ability to play multiple positions for our team. Her competitiveness and strength will be an asset for not just her future, but the future of our program as well."
HIGH SCHOOL
Helped lead her team to a fifth-place finish in state, which resulted in being the district runner-up in 2017 … Completed back-to-back top-three finishes in district with her third-place standing in 2018 … Improved her statistics every year she competed in high school, starting with 43 blocks and 51 kills in 2017 and finishing with 105 blocks, 274 kills, along with a .336 hitting percentage in 2019.
PERSONAL
Daughter of Gregory and Alycia Linder … Has two older brothers … Her brother, Tyler, swam competitively for Cuesta College … Majoring in psychology with career aspirations to become a criminal psychologist … Says her mother's work ethic is her biggest influence … Enjoys horseback riding in her free time … Her aunt is a celebrity hair stylist who has worked with Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton.
SARAH MARTINEZ
Libero / 5-4
Flower Mound, Texas
Flower Mound HS
REHR ON MARTINEZ
"Sarah is a proven winner who is a Texas state champion and has won at the highest level. She will compete for a job on our team immediately. Sarah is an excellent defender and has the on-court leadership needed to compete at this level."
HIGH SCHOOL
A four-year letterman who led her squad to a 43-7 record and a state championship in 2018 … Followed that with a 41-4 senior season that resulted in becoming the district, bi-district and area champions in 2019 … Finished out her high school career averaging 5.9 digs per set in her junior and senior seasons … Earned three First-Team All-District accolades from 2017-19, which came with back-to-back District Defensive Player of the Year honors from 2018-19 … Awarded TAVC 6A Newcomer of the Year in 2018 … Named to the Texas Sports Writers Association All-State First Team … Landed a spot on the Under Armour Preseason Watch List, having earned a nomination to become an Under Armour All-American … Awarded the Dallas Morning News All-Area Libero of the Year in 2018 and 2019.
PERSONAL
Daughter Michael and Lylian Martinez … Has a younger sister … Her father, was involved with the Penn State football program while in college … Majoring in psychology with ambitions to become a child psychologist or sports psychologist … Lists her parents as her biggest influence … Enjoys working out and reading, along with spending time with her family and friends in her free time … Has moved to seven different cities (six states) in her lifetime.
ANNIE COOKE
Setter / 5-11
The Woodlands, Texas
The Woodlands College Park HS
REHR ON COOKE
"I have known Annie for a couple of years now, and she is a standout leader and an excellent setter. We expect great things from Annie in her future as a Houston Volleyball player."
HIGH SCHOOL
Led her team to a district finish of fourth or higher in all four years, including a district championship and a 30-6 record her senior season … A two-time District 15-6A First Team honoree … Appeared on the AVCA Phenom List three times … Awarded a spot on the TAVC All-American list in 2019 … Named to the PrepVolleyball National Watch List in 2017 and 2018 … An AVCA High School All-Region Team honoree in 2019, where she also landed a sport on the TGCA 6A All-American squad … Finished her high school career being awarded the All-Montgomery Country Co-Offensive MVP in 2019.
PERSONAL
Daughter of Michele and Alan Cooke … Has three older sisters … Her father, was a competitive rower at Columbia University and her sister, Meg, competed for the swim team at Texas A&M … Majoring in kinesiology with aspirations to become a pediatric oncology nurse … Volunteers with Hope Beyond Bridges, an organization that benefits with homeless community in Houston … Enjoys spending time with her sisters and playing the ukulele.
Follow Houston Volleyball on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarVB, and "Like" UHCougarVB on Facebook.
Fans can help support the Houston Volleyball program by joining the Point HOUSTON Club. To find out more information about the Point HOUSTON Club, visit UHCougars.com or call Cougar Pride at (713) 743-GoUH.
– UHCougars.com –
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