Volleyball Inks Three During Early Signing Period
Nov 19, 2009 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 19, 2009
NEW ORLEANS - On the eve of the 2009 Conference USA Volleyball Championship, the Tulane University volleyball team announced the addition of Azarri Badawi, Cori Martone and Melody Mandelbaum for the 2010 season as the trio inked National Letters of Intent to play for the Green Wave during the 2009 NCAA Early Signing Period.
A native of Baton Rouge, La., Martone (MB/OH - 6-0 - St. Joseph's Academy) becomes the first Tulane recruit from the state since Amaris Genemaras signed out of nearby Mount Carmel Academy in April 2007. Badawi (OH/RS/MB - 6-1 - Bullard HS) and Mandelbaum (S - 5-10 - Clovis West HS) join the Tulane team from Fresno and Clovis, Calif., respectively. Martone and Mandelbaum are ranked among the PrepVolleyball.com Senior Aces Top 150, and Mandelbaum is also a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Preseason All-America Checklist - marking the first time Tulane signed a member of the Senior Aces list or a prep All-America candidate.
"We are very excited about these three student athletes joining our program," first-year Tulane head volleyball coach Sinisa Momic said. "Our recruiting coordinator, Amy Williamson, did a great job bringing quality recruits in the short period of time she has been here. We feel that this is a great start for a new coaching staff, being the first time we have signed high quality recruits during early signing period.
"All three of our recruits will have a great impact on this program, bringing athleticism, skill, versatility and a high volleyball IQ. But most importantly, all three of them have a real passion for the sport of volleyball and are willing to work hard."
Martone helped St. Joseph's Academy win consecutive Division I-Class 5A state titles during her final three prep seasons and helped the Red Stickers post a combined 79-4-3 record over the last two years. SJA's 46-1 record in 2009 stands as the second-most wins in Louisiana high school volleyball history.
As a senior, Martone was named first-team All-Division I District 3 and has been selected to play for Team East in the Louisiana High School Coaches Association All-Star Game on Nov. 21 in Thibodaux, La. She was named Most Outstanding Player of the state championship match after posting a match-high 19 kills, including the game-winner, in the Red Stickers' 3-0 win over Mount Carmel.
Following the 2008 season, Martone was named to the Louisiana Volleyball Coaches Association all-state team and the All-Metro Team for Division I-II by area coaches after posting 198 kills and 146 blocks while hitting .452 as a junior. She claimed MVP honors of the state championship after tallying 16 kills and 12 blocks in a four-set win over Fontainebleau.
In addition to her time at St. Joseph's, Martone played club volleyball for the Volleyball Institute of America. In 2008, she suited up for Louisiana Volleyball Club where she helped the team finish fifth in the JVDA in Kentucky and ninth at the AAU Nationals in Orlando, Fla.
"Cori Martone is a local standout and the best player in Louisiana in her class right now," Momic said. "We are very excited to be able to sign someone from the state as that is always the first place we look. Cori is playing middle mostly right now, but definitely has a lot of potential to develop her all-around game. She is going to immediately improve our athleticism, touching over 10 feet already. She is a player to keep a look out for as she will improve rapidly within the first couple of months on campus."
Badawi is a three-time All-Scholar Athlete during her time at Bullard High and claimed first-team All-County/Metro Athletic Conference honors in each of the past two seasons. As a senior, she helped lead the team to a 25-7 overall record and a third-place finish in the section after tallying 240 kills, 164 digs, 84 blocks (47 solo, 37 assists), 4 service aces and 15 assists.
She paced the team in blocks during her final two prep seasons and led the CMAC in 2009 while helping guide the Knights to an undefeated 10-0 mark in league play. Badawi also lettered in track and field where she earned first-team All-CMAC in the triple jump and high jump.
Badawi played seven years at the club level where he team participated in the 2007 USA Junior Olympics. She was a member of the USA High Performance A2 Teams in 2008 and 2009 and was selected to play on the 2009 USA Youth National Team.
"Azarri Badawi is similar to Cori as far as her net game, and also is playing middle right now," Momic said. "She will immediately be able help us in more than one position. She is very quick blocker with good footwork in the back row. She is also a diligent worker who will develop fast due to her pure athleticism. Azarri also touching around 10 feet will help us as we look to play at another level next season."
Mandelbaum, meanwhile, set Clovis West High's career records with more than 3,500 assists and 850 digs while helping lead the Golden Eagles to a combined 90-33 record over the last four years, including a 31-10 record in 2009. Along the way, Mandelbaum helped CWHS win a pair of Tri-Rivers Athletic Conference titles, a CIF Section championship and a trip to the California Division I Elite 8. She claimed All-TRAC honors in each of her first three prep seasons, including garnering first-team honors as a junior in 2008.
In addition to her assist and digs totals, Mandelbaum tallied 729 kills, 174 service aces and 92 blocks during her prep career. As a senior in 2009, she hit .504 as a senior with just 20 errors in 232 swings. A multiple-sport athlete, Mandelbaum also lettered four years in badminton where she helped Clovis West win three conference and two CIF section titles, and once in basketball.
Mandelbaum began playing volleyball in third grade and was the starting center on the 12-and-Under Far Western Champions at age 9. She also played club volleyball for Central Cal where she helped her teams win the Junior Olympics and Far Western National Division in 2006. Her club teams also finished second at the Colorado Crossroads and Far Westerns in 2008 and at the California Kickoff 18 Open in 2009, third at the 2008 SoCal Qualifier and 2009 Colorado Crossroads and ninth at the 2009 Las Vegas Classic.
"We think Melody Mendelbaum is one of the best setters in California right now," Momic said. "She is playing at a high level in her high school and club, and is technically already able to run a more advanced offense. She has a good understanding of the game, great energy and passion. Because of that, she will be able to contribute to this program right away."
While the signees will not suit up for the Green Wave until next season, the 2009 Tulane volleyball team returns to action on Friday, Nov. 20, when it battles SMU in the first round of the Conference USA Volleyball Championship at noon in Houston, Texas. The three-day, single-elimination tournament culminates on Sunday with the championship match slated to begin at 1 p.m., and the winner of that contest earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA postseason.
