OU Volleyball Inks Top-20 Class for 2023

NORMAN – Oklahoma volleyball head coach Lindsey Gray-Walton announced Friday the addition of three student-athletes during the 2022-23 early signing period. The tremendous trio joining the Sooners for the 2023 season are Mele Corral-Blagojevich, Emma Henry and Hannah Pfiffner.

The three-member class currently ranks No. 18 in PrepVolleyball.com's 2023 class rankings. The class is the fourth top-50 recruiting class since 2018 and third consecutive top-20 recruiting class overall. Individually, Corral-Blagojevich is currently ranked No. 27 and Pfiffner is No. 77.

Mele Faiva Corral-Blagojevich - Signing Day Article Cover Photo

Mele Corral-Blagojevich / Outside Hitter / 6'1" / Redondo Beach, Calif. / Redondo Union High School / Mizuno Long Beach

High School

Two-time MaxPreps Pre-Season All-American (2021, '22)
Two-time All-CIF Team (2021 – First Team, 2019)
2019 PrepVolleyball.com National Freshman of the Year Runner-Up
2019 CIF Champion
2019 All-State Team
2019 Daily Breeze All-Area First Team
2019 So Cal News Group All-Region First Team
Only freshman to be selected as a finalist for the 2019 USA Today Los Angeles Player of the Year
2021 All-League and Team MVP
2022 Under Armour All-American
2022 Max Preps National Player of the Year Watch List
2022 Daily Breeze Player of the Week
Up to this point, she has played 286 sets over her high school career and amassed over 1,000 kills (1,048), 350 service aces (364) and 750 digs (757).

Club

Team consistently finished in the top 5 in the Open Division at Nationals and the top 5 in Southern California.

OU head coach Lindsey Gray-Walton on Corral-Blagojevich:

"The rock, glue and heartbeat are many ways to describe a player like Mele and what value she is to her team and the No. 27 overall recruit in the class for that exact reason. The finesse in her backcourt game and the power in her swing is unlike anything we've had at Oklahoma before. Mele's position duality, court awareness, and competitive spirit are all reasons she can create a lot of opportunities for herself in the Crimson and Cream.

"Mele is the definition of a winner, and she has a standard for herself that is different than that of her peers and the passion in her game comes from a place of love, with a lot of fire behind it. Someone that will inspire many to play, just by the way she plays. We love that and believe it can be a great recipe for success here at Oklahoma!"

THE CORRAL-BLAGOJEVICH FILE
ACADEMICS 2022 Redondo Union Academic Letter Recipient Two-time Principal's Honor Roll (2019-20, 2020-21) Currently holds a 3.8 GPA PERSONAL Daughter of Aleks Blagojevich and Krystle Corral-Blagojevich. Also has a three-year old sister named Koko. Father, Aleks, played football at San Diego State while uncle played football at USC. Played beach volleyball and was named 2021 Team MVP and Team Most Outstanding Player. Intends to major in biomechanical engineering at OU. Why Oklahoma? "I chose OU because I could feel how contagious the competitive culture is there. Winning championships is a mindset, and it was just so clear to see that every program on campus has this mind set and is making big things happen, and I wanted to be a part of that." Favorite part of official visit. "My favorite part of visiting the campus was getting to see how beautiful Norman was. It was my first-time visiting Oklahoma and I just loved everything about it. It made me feel like I was home." What are you most looking forward to about playing at OU? "I'm most looking forward to joining a team and coaching staff that is ready to win and that is hungry. I feel like we're going to be making some really big waves in the Big 12 and SEC. I'm also excited about joining a state-wide community that fully supports and goes all in for their athletes" SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter \| Instagram \| TikTok

THE CORRAL-BLAGOJEVICH FILE

ACADEMICS

2022 Redondo Union Academic Letter Recipient
Two-time Principal's Honor Roll (2019-20, 2020-21)
Currently holds a 3.8 GPA

PERSONAL

Daughter of Aleks Blagojevich and Krystle Corral-Blagojevich. Also has a three-year old sister named Koko.
Father, Aleks, played football at San Diego State while uncle played football at USC.
Played beach volleyball and was named 2021 Team MVP and Team Most Outstanding Player.
Intends to major in biomechanical engineering at OU.

Why Oklahoma?
"I chose OU because I could feel how contagious the competitive culture is there. Winning championships is a mindset, and it was just so clear to see that every program on campus has this mind set and is making big things happen, and I wanted to be a part of that."

Favorite part of official visit.
"My favorite part of visiting the campus was getting to see how beautiful Norman was. It was my first-time visiting Oklahoma and I just loved everything about it. It made me feel like I was home."

What are you most looking forward to about playing at OU?
"I'm most looking forward to joining a team and coaching staff that is ready to win and that is hungry. I feel like we're going to be making some really big waves in the Big 12 and SEC. I'm also excited about joining a state-wide community that fully supports and goes all in for their athletes"

SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter | Instagram | TikTok

Emma Henry / Setter / 5'8" / Norman, Okla. / Norman High School / Skyline Juniors

High School

First Team All-Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference honoree
Four-year letterwinner and team captain at Norman High School
- Career leader in assists and digs
- Team leader each season in kills, assists and digs
Amassed over 2,150 assists (2,179), 850 kills (882), 1,300 digs (1,326), 175 blocks (185) and 300 service aces (312).

OU head coach Lindsey Gray-Walton on Emma Henry:

"Emma is someone that has been a part of this journey since day one and to see the story have a chapter where it takes her to be a part of the program in her own way is pretty special. A leader in her community and school, Emma is someone that has always challenged herself through learning and competition.

"The time and sacrifice they as a family have put into Emma's dream becoming a reality is next level and that support will continue to happen while here at Oklahoma. A player with great court awareness and understanding of the competitive moment, Emma brings a wealth of tangible and intangible skill sets with her to Norman that enhance our program for future success."

THE HENRY FILE
ACADEMICS Class President for sophomore, junior and senior years Member of the Superintendent Student-Advisory Council (2017-2022) Norman High Rotary Club Member (2019-2022) Tigerpalooza Philanthropic Committee Chair (2019-2022) Member of the United Way of Norman Student Engage Committee (2019-2021) Currently holds a 4.0 GPA PERSONAL The Norman native is the daughter of Kevin and Aiyana Henry. Also has a 14-year-old brother named Nash. Father, Kevin, played college basketball at the University of New Mexico and Baylor, and is now the color analyst for the Sooner Radio Network for OU men's basketball. Mother, Aiyana, played basketball at the University of New Mexico and is currently the Associate Dean for the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education at University of Oklahoma. Ran track and was a Regional Qualifier in the 200m and 4x400m relay. Intends to major in business and pre-law Why Oklahoma? "Throughout the recruiting process, I was looking for a school that could provide me a first-class education and compete at a high level athletically … OU checked all the boxes. I am looking forward to playing in front of my hometown for the Sooners! I have watched the volleyball program since I was in elementary school and love what Coach Lindsey Gray-Walton and her staff have done. They have built such a great culture and I can't wait to be a part of it!" Favorite part of official visit. "All of my visits to campus have been more about getting to know the coaches, players and support staff. Each visit has felt more and more like "home." The current players were so welcoming the coaching staff is awesome." What are you most looking forward to about playing at OU? "I am looking forward to representing my hometown in front of my family and friends. OU is such a special place, and I cannot wait to become a Sooner!" SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram \| TikTok

THE HENRY FILE

ACADEMICS

Class President for sophomore, junior and senior years
Member of the Superintendent Student-Advisory Council (2017-2022)
Norman High Rotary Club Member (2019-2022)
Tigerpalooza Philanthropic Committee Chair (2019-2022)
Member of the United Way of Norman Student Engage Committee (2019-2021)
Currently holds a 4.0 GPA

PERSONAL

The Norman native is the daughter of Kevin and Aiyana Henry. Also has a 14-year-old brother named Nash.
Father, Kevin, played college basketball at the University of New Mexico and Baylor, and is now the color analyst for the Sooner Radio Network for OU men's basketball.
Mother, Aiyana, played basketball at the University of New Mexico and is currently the Associate Dean for the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education at University of Oklahoma.
Ran track and was a Regional Qualifier in the 200m and 4x400m relay.
Intends to major in business and pre-law

Why Oklahoma?
"Throughout the recruiting process, I was looking for a school that could provide me a first-class education and compete at a high level athletically … OU checked all the boxes. I am looking forward to playing in front of my hometown for the Sooners! I have watched the volleyball program since I was in elementary school and love what Coach Lindsey Gray-Walton and her staff have done. They have built such a great culture and I can't wait to be a part of it!"

Favorite part of official visit.
"All of my visits to campus have been more about getting to know the coaches, players and support staff. Each visit has felt more and more like "home." The current players were so welcoming the coaching staff is awesome."

What are you most looking forward to about playing at OU?
"I am looking forward to representing my hometown in front of my family and friends. OU is such a special place, and I cannot wait to become a Sooner!"

SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram | TikTok

Hannah Pfiffner - Signing Day Cover Photo

Hannah Pfiffner / Middle Blocker / 6'1" / Frisco, Texas / Wakeland High School / Texas Advantage Volleyball Club (TAV)

High School

Two-time First Team All-District 9-5A honoree (2020, '21)
Two-time Bi-District Champs (2021, '22)
2020 District 9-5A Newcomer of the Year
2021 Northwest All-Tournament Team
2021 Texas Girls Coaches Association Volleyball All-State Team
2021 Wakeland High School Volleyball Most Valuable Player (MVP)
2022 AVCA High School All-Region Team (Region 4)
2022 AVCA All-American Watch List
2022 Sportsday HS Preseason All-Area Volleyball Team
2022 District Champs and Area Champs
Offensively, she has led Wakeland High School varsity team the last three years in kills and last two years in hitting percentage (.375 in 2021-22 and .415 in 2022-23).

Club

Prep Volleyball Class of 2023 Top 150 Watch List
No. 75 in the 2023 Prep Dig's National Rankings
Two-time Indoor USA Volleyball NTDP (National Training Development Series) [2021, '22]
Under Armour Selection Camp Invitee (2021, '22)
2022 MEQ (Mid-East Qualifier) 17 Open Champions
2021 USAV GJNC 16 Open National Championship
2021 NEQ (Northeast Qualifier) 16 Open Champions
2021 NLQ (Northern Lights Qualifier) 16 Open Champions
2020 USAV GJNC 14 USA National Championship
2020 MEQ (Mid-East Qualifier) 14 USA Champions

OU head coach Lindsey Gray-Walton on Pfiffner:

"What doesn't Hannah do well? Volleyball, high jump, author… multifaceted and authentic to what she likes and who she is. Hannah is a person that has had so much success because there's never been pressure that she has to do any of it. What a way to thrive!

"Her speed, precision and overall work rate are what separates Hannah from the other players in her position. As the No. 77 recruit (in the Class of 2023), she will benefit greatly from the resources of a collegiate program, catapulting her into a league of All-American level middle blockers. Hannah is a transformational player and leader with a great purpose for what she's doing on and off the court. We are excited about the years ahead with Hannah and the opportunity our program has to do something that's never been done before!"

THE PFIFFNER FILE
ACADEMICS Two-time Academic All-District 9-5A (2020, '21) 2022 AVCA Best and Brightest First Team National Honor Society Member Currently holds a 4.649 GPA PERSONAL Daughter of David and Tara Pfiffner High jumper for Wakeland High School Track & Field team Two-time 5A UIL Texas State High Jump Champion (2022, '21) 2022 Texas Girls Coaches Association Track-Field All-Star 2022 Dallas Morning News All-Area Track and Field Team 2022 Girls High School All-American Team 2021 Wakeland Track & Field Most Valuable Athlete Award 2021 Wakeland Track & Field Most Valuable Jumper Award 2020 Wakeland High School Jump Award Intends to major in professional writing at OU's Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication Why Oklahoma? "I chose OU because I believe in Coach Gray-Walton's mission and I'm so excited to be a part of the team and program! I also fell in love with the campus and the great environment of the school overall. The coaches, staff and players were so welcoming, and OU just felt like home from the very beginning. The most important things to me have always been a great athletic program, a good culture, and a school with strong academics." Favorite part of official visit. "My favorite part of the official visit was definitely getting to spend time with the team and getting to know them as well as meeting all of the people who make OU volleyball such an amazing program." What are you most looking forward to about playing at OU? "I'm looking forward to getting to know and play with my teammates and contributing to the team." SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter \| Instagram

THE PFIFFNER FILE

ACADEMICS

Two-time Academic All-District 9-5A (2020, '21)
2022 AVCA Best and Brightest First Team
National Honor Society Member
Currently holds a 4.649 GPA

PERSONAL

Daughter of David and Tara Pfiffner
High jumper for Wakeland High School Track & Field team
- Two-time 5A UIL Texas State High Jump Champion (2022, '21)
- 2022 Texas Girls Coaches Association Track-Field All-Star
- 2022 Dallas Morning News All-Area Track and Field Team
- 2022 Girls High School All-American Team
- 2021 Wakeland Track & Field Most Valuable Athlete Award
- 2021 Wakeland Track & Field Most Valuable Jumper Award
- 2020 Wakeland High School Jump Award
Intends to major in professional writing at OU's Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication

Why Oklahoma?
"I chose OU because I believe in Coach Gray-Walton's mission and I'm so excited to be a part of the team and program! I also fell in love with the campus and the great environment of the school overall. The coaches, staff and players were so welcoming, and OU just felt like home from the very beginning. The most important things to me have always been a great athletic program, a good culture, and a school with strong academics."

Favorite part of official visit.
"My favorite part of the official visit was definitely getting to spend time with the team and getting to know them as well as meeting all of the people who make OU volleyball such an amazing program."

What are you most looking forward to about playing at OU?
"I'm looking forward to getting to know and play with my teammates and contributing to the team."

SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter | Instagram

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