SAN DIEGO – The prospects for the San Diego State volleyball program continue to brighten after head coach Brent Hilliard announced the signing of high school stars Cara Braun (Tempe, Ariz.), Kat Cooper (Springdale, Ark.) and Madison Corf (Kansas City, Mo.) to National Letters of Intent. The highly acclaimed trio of future Aztecs will arrive on the SDSU campus in time for the 2022 campaign.
A senior at Liberty High in suburban Kansas City, Missouri, Corf recently garnered second-team All-America accolades from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) after earning a spot on the AVCA All-Region VI team. In addition, the 5-11 outside hitter received first-team all-district and all-conference recognition for the second straight season.
Over the past four years, Corf amassed 1,142 kills (3.4/set), 703 digs (2.1/set), 151 blocks (0.5/set) and 71 service aces, according to MaxPreps. During the just-completed 2021 campaign, she established single-season career highs in kills (390, 4.1/set), digs (353, 3.7/set), blocks (50) and aces (33), helping the Blue Jays to a 26-5 overall record and a second-place district finish.
As a sophomore in 2019, Corf was part of a Liberty squad that placed third in the state tournament after capturing district and sectional championships. She also excelled on her track and field team, earning all-state honors in the high jump as a junior last spring after claiming the district crown.
"Madison is a gifted player both physically and mentally," Hilliard said. "Although she has a calm demeanor on the court, she is as competitive as any athlete in our fall class. Madison is a true six-rotation outside hitter that will help our ball control and offense immediately upon arrival. She has a chance to be a great player early in her collegiate career."
Likewise, Cooper received AVCA All-America honorable mention this past season to go with AVCA All-Region IV distinction after leading Har-Ber High to a 33-2 overall record and a runner-up finish in the 6A bracket at the Arkansas state championships. The 6-1 middle blocker also garnered all-state accolades and earned a spot on the all-state tournament team in each of her final three seasons.
A four-time all-conference selection, Cooper posted 968 kills and a .339 hitting percentage during her career to go with 178 digs, 167 blocks and 99 aces, according to MaxPreps. As a senior in 2021, she recorded her highest efficiency as a prep with a .403 clip, propelling the Wildcats to a 6A West conference championship with a 14-0 record.
"Kat is extremely athletic and very gifted on the slide attack from her middle hitting position," Hilliard said. "What stands out about her is she outworks any athlete that she faces in competition. Kat is always available on her transition attacks, and she will produce a lot of offense out of a position that we expect a lot from next year."
Similarly, Braun brings a winning pedigree with her to The Mesa after leading Valley Christian High (Chandler, Ariz.) to the 2021 Arizona 3A state championship with a 33-3 overall record. She was named MaxPreps Player of the Match in the championship final vs. Snowflake thanks to her double-double of 15 kills and 10 digs in a 3-0 sweep.
A 6-1 outside hitter, Braun recorded a team-high 415 kills (4.2/set) this past season and hit .333 to go with 208 digs (2.1/set) and 56 aces, according to MaxPreps. For her career, she totaled 1,290 kills and a .344 hitting percentage, earning all-conference recognition on three occasions thus far, including first-team accolades in 2019.
"Cara is the prototypical outside hitter that an elite program looks for," Hilliard said. "She is tall and lean with a great complement of skills that we look for out of her position. Cara has a great arm swing, solid block and ball control that sets her apart from other athletes. Add to that an extremely competitive demeanor on the court, and we expect her to compete for a starting position right away."
San Diego State concludes its 2021 campaign with a pair of home matches this week, battling Nevada on Thursday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. PT, before facing San José State on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m.