University of Oklahoma Athletics
Volleyball Signs Impressive Class for 2021
November 11, 2020 | Volleyball
NORMAN — Oklahoma volleyball head coach Lindsey Gray-Walton announced Wednesday the addition of five student-athletes during the 2020-21 early signing period. Joining the Sooners next year will be Kristen Birmingham, Callie Cogdill, Peyton Dunn, Callie Kemohah and Megan Wilson.
"If I could sum up the 2021 class, which we are ecstatic about arriving here soon, they're the perfect mix of different people, personalities and backgrounds but a similar goal of being tireless workers who are passionate about doing big things," Gray-Walton said. "They are up for the challenge that is becoming a championship program. I think in all of our conversations we could tell that our goals and our ideas really aligned on what it was going to take by each individual."
"As each one slowly made their commitment, their connection to each other has started to already show its build before it has even arrived. For us that is so special as coaches because it means you're recruiting the right people. Each of them are so excited of what the four years can provide for the next 40 in opportunity for them. We're counting down the days for them to arrive here and signing day is a special moment. Sign that piece of paper and the next chapter starts."
Kristen Birmingham / OH / 6-1 / Kansas City, Mo.
A 6-1 outside hitter out of Kansas City, Mo., Birmingham is a four-year letterwinner at Park Hill High School. She has notched 1,062 kills, 120 blocks, 711 digs and 52 aces in her high school career. She was named to the Under Armour All-American Third Team. She was a first-team All-Conference, First-Team All-District and a Class 4 All-State selection as a junior. She earned all-conference honors as a sophomore and all-district honors in both her freshman and sophomore campaigns. Birmingham played club volleyball with KC Power from 2017-2020 and currently plays for MavsKC. With her club team, she finished third at nationals in 2019. Birmingham was ranked in the Top 150 Seniors by PrepVolleyball, coming in at No. 112.
"Kristen is somebody I first remember seeing on video back when I was an assistant coach," Gray-Walton said. "She is a pure talent and a competitor in anything she does. Her physicality, her presence at the net, she is imposing with her will and physicality. Attack and block are the two things that she'll be able to do the minute she steps through the doors, but she'll continue to develop all the parts of her game that we know she has and wants to develop. For Kristen, she has eclipsed 1,000 kills, she's played on top club team, travelled all over and her family has poured every ounce into this dream becoming a reality. She's someone who is all in. You tell her go and she'll ask how far. We're excited to see how far we can go with her here."
Along with excelling at volleyball, Birmingham is a 19x All-American in track and field with two school records in the 4x100 meter race and 4x200 meter race. She was a state champion in the 4x400 in 2019.
Birmingham is the daughter of Vernon and Fatir Birmingham. She has two sisters, Jordan and Lauryn. She plans to major in architecture with a minor in interior design.
"I chose OU because I developed a great relationship with the coaching staff," Birmingham said. "They believed in my ability and potential from the beginning. I love the family atmosphere within the program, from the staff to the players. I wanted to play against some of the best competition in the country and I get that in the Big 12."
Callie Cogdill / DS / 5-6 / Cypress, Texas
A native of Cypress, Texas, Cogdill is a four-year letterwinner at Cypress Woods High School. The 5-6 libero has been a three-time All-District selection, while also being named to the Academic All-District Team. As a junior, she was named to the TAVC All-Texas Team and the GHVCA Postseason Team. In her career, she has tallied 1,200 digs, including 568 in her junior season. Cogdill has added 640 assists and 75 aces to her career numbers.
"Callie is a tireless worker and competitor. She is an individual that embraces any role that she's given on any team. She's always up for the challenge competitively. She's continually asked more of herself in everything that she's done. Both of her parents being Baylor grads, I think maybe that's what everyone thought would happen and then it took a camp and a couple conversations and we knew we had a really special kid on our hands. We're excited about Callie when she arrives here. She's graduating early and she's someone who has been a mini recruiter on her own whether it's in her club for OU talking about her excitement or just connecting with her class and those who have committed after her. That's really cool to see. When there is a personal drive and intent there by individuals that haven't even arrived on campus yet, you know it's going to be special."
Cogdill currently plays club volleyball for Houston Skyline. In 2018, she placed third at the Open Girls Junior National Championships. She was named to the Under Armour All-American Watch List in 2020.
Cogdill is the daughter of Mark and AnnMarie Cogdill. She has two siblings, Casey and Ty. Her father, Mark, played baseball and football at Baylor. She plans to major in business.
"I chose Oklahoma because I wanted to be able to compete at a high level and also feel like I was part of a family," Cogdill said. "I know that I will feel at home at OU and I will have all the resources to help me succeed after college."
Peyton Dunn / S / 5-11 / Parker, Colo.
A 5-11 setter, Dunn is a three-year letter winner out of Legend High School. Her freshman season, she played in the final four of the state tournament, followed by an elite eight appearance as a sophomore. As a senior, she was named to the Under Armour All-American Third Team.As a junior, Dunn tallied 1,407 assists, 416 digs, 300 kills and 106 aces. She has been a two-time All-Conference selection and was named the All-State second team as a junior. She was named to the AVCA All-American Watch List in 2020 and was a team captain in 2019.
"Peyton Dunn. What a fun story for that one on how she arrived here at OU," Gray-Walton said. "She is someone who trusted herself and the process and the conversations she was having with the people going through the recruiting process with her and at the end of the day Oklahoma was it. We feel confident that she is someone who can have a great career here because she is an elite talent at delivering the ball. In high school she has played on teams that have made deep runs in the state tournament, club teams that have made deep runs at the national tournament. It's no surprise who she is competing against or amongst. She's always up for that challenge and she craves that. You want someone like that setting the ball for your team and being a leader. We're really excited about someone like Peyton. We should expect Peyton to have some big nights here in the Field House."
Dunn plays club volleyball for Colorado Juniors, the club of current Sooner freshman Sam Anthony. She was named the Newcomer of the Year in 2016. She has competed at the USAV Open in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2015 and 2016, she competed at the USAV Nationals. Dunn was ranked in the Top 150 Seniors by PrepVolleyball, coming in at No. 111.
Dunn is the daughter of Jim and Julie Dunn. She has one sibling, Reilly Dunn, who plays basketball at CSU Pueblo. She plans to major in business.
"I chose Oklahoma because it offers everything from academics to competing at the highest level in the Big 12," Dunn said. "I instantly fell in love with the staff and family feel of the team. I am so excited to have the opportunity to play for OU."
Callie Kemohah / L / 5-6 / Lucas, Texas
Kemohah is a 5-6 libero out of Lucas, Texas where she is a four-year letterwinner at Lovejoy High School. As a senior, she was named to the Under Armour All-American Third Team.In her career, she has tallied 1,519 digs, 255 assists and 97 aces. As a junior, she reached 1,500 digs during the 2019 state semi-final match. Kemohah was the 5A State Champion as a junior, the TAVC 5A Defensive Player of the Year and the district Defensive Player of the Year. She spent two years at Allen High School where she helped lead her team to a 31-9 record and a bi-district appearance as a freshman. As a junior at Lovejoy, she led the team to a 45-6 record on route to the state championship.
"Callie is a winner, a lover, a legacy here already at Oklahoma having her dad as an alum with the baseball program, her sister is currently here. She's someone that the moment she stepped on campus it felt right for her and felt right for us. She is a pure talent in her position that has continued to be a rock for every team that she has been on. She has championship DNA and we love all the things about Callie. She is mature beyond her years. Her parents tell us all the time that she makes her own appointments and does her own thing and you like that self-starter ability in someone. There's a drive and a work ethic and she has really big individual goals along with a lot of talent. She's someone that can be pretty special in the coming years here."
Kemohah plays club volleyball for Texas Advantage where she has medaled for seven-straight years at the USAV/AAU National Tournament. Her club performances include being the 2018 USAV 15 Open National Champion. Kemoah is ranked in PrepVolleyball's Top 150 seniors, coming in at No. 69.
Kemohah is the daughter of Brett and Julie Kemohah. She has one sister, Lauren. Her father, Brett, played baseball at Oklahoma from 1991-93. She plans to major in business or pre-dentistry.
"Oklahoma has always felt like home," Kemohah said. "I come from a big Sooner family – my dad played baseball at OU – and I love the competitive environment and the championship culture. I chose OU because the coaching staff is unmatched. Their energy, excitement and vision for the program is exactly what I wanted. I know OU will provide all the resources I need to succeed."
Megan Wilson / MB/OH / 6-4 / Kingwood, Texas
The tallest member of the 2021 class, Wilson is a 6-4 middle blocker/outside hitter out of Kingwood High School in Kingwood, Texas. Recently, she was named to the Under Armour All-American Third Team. She is a two-year letter winner and was named the Hitter of the Year as a junior, while also adding all-state and all-district honors to her resume. In two seasons, she has notched 438 kills, 103 blocks, 127 digs and 41 aces. She was a district champion as a junior.
"Megan is somebody who I say the name and I get excited because she's so young in her volleyball career but so talented as an athlete," Gray-Walton said. "You can only imagine what is yet to be for someone like her who has just been continuing to put in the tireless work and effort. When we met and learned more about her and her story, having left club soccer at 16 - she was a 6-4 midfielder - it's amazing to think about that. Now she's a 6-4 middle blocker that with a 6-6 wingspan and a natural lateral mover who can take up so much space and be imposing at the net. She's continuing to work on her craft in all of the ways - serve, pass, defend. She's someone that has really developed as a talent where we can't wait to see where she ends up on the court for us at Oklahoma. We see it early on in the middle but someone like that who keeps developing, you don't want to put a ceiling or parameters on anyone. We're really excited to see what happens when Megan steps on campus. Physically, talent wise she has all the attributes and competitively, she has the drive."
Wilson plays for Texas Advantage with fellow signee Callie Kemohah. She was named a Top 50 recruit for 2021 by Prep Volleyball and was a two-time selection to the Prep Volleyball Watch List. Wilson is also ranked No. 87 by PrepVolleyball in the Top 150 Seniors.
Wilson is the daughter of Greg and Cheryl Wilson. She has two siblings, Kirk and Lindsey. Her major is undecided.
"I chose Oklahoma because as soon as I stepped onto campus, it felt like home," Wilson said. "The coaching staff is amazing and I know they are going to push us to be the best versions of ourselves on the court and in the classroom. I am super excited to be a part of such a strong 2021 class and I know we will accomplish big things."
