Tennessee Adds Freshman Pellizzon & Transfer Rowe For 2018 Season

Tennessee’s new head coach, Eve Rackham, has officially signed on her first two recruits for the 2018 season. Joining the Vols will be a freshman libero/defensive specialist in Giana Pellizzon from California along with sophomore middle blocker transfer Addisyn Rowe of Marshall.

This will be Rackham’s first season with the Vols who will look to improve the team from its 2017 record of 12-15 and 5-13 in SEC play.

Pellizzon comes to Tennessee from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in San Clemente, California as a libero/defensive specialist. She plays club volleyball for Tstreet Volleyball Club for Troy Tanner who has coached Olympic beach gold medalists Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor.

In Pellizzon’s young career, she has won a Junior Olympics National Championship and was a bronze medal winner in 16 Opens in July 2016. Additionally, she was:

• Junior National Qualifier in Los Angeles gold medalist in 16-1 Open (April 2016)
• Triple Crown bronze medalist 17-1 Open (February 2017)
• Windy City Qualifier bronze medalist 17-1 Open (April 2017)
• JVA West Coast cup bronze medalist 17-1 Open (May 2017)

Pellizzon plans to study business at Tennessee.

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY: Congratulations to Giana Pellizzon of @SMCHSVolleyball for signing with @Vol_Sports this morning. pic.twitter.com/ctXX4kjCry

— SMCHS Athletics (@SMCHSAthletics) February 7, 2018

Rowe returns to her home state of Tennessee to compete with the Vols after spending her freshman season with Marshall University. With Marshall, Rowe competed in 30 matches, recording 140 kills, 33 digs and 97 blocks. Rowe picked up a Conference USA All-Freshman Team honor.

In high school, Rowe had an impressive resume, being named the Player of the Week three times and earned Player of the Year in her conference. She was a two-time All-Conference and All-Academic selection in high school. Rowe played club volleyball for Tri-Cities Extreme.

Rowe was a two-sport athlete in high school, picking up her conference’s Athlete of the Year award in track in 2016. Her disappearance from the Marshall roster earlier this spring posed some questions but has led to her decision to continue playing volleyball with the Vols.