By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech volleyball team and head coach Jeannette Waldo welcomed two future Golden Eagles into the wings Wednesday, announcing the signing of Payton Lombardi and Jazmine Yamilkoski as a part of the 2021 signing class.
"This recruiting season has been unconventional, but we found resilient players that persevered through these challenges in order to find their new home here at Tech," Waldo expressed. "We are ecstatic about the level of talent that will be joining us for our 2021 season. They certainly have the skill, and now we know they are creative, flexible, and cannot wait to begin their college careers.
"They will definitely have a different story than some other athletes of how they got here, and we hope the story doesn't stop there. We plan on doing big things with the addition of this class, and they all have the potential to contribute immediately. Exciting things are happening now for our team, so it is even more thrilling to imagine what 2021 will bring."
Payton Lombardi
Libero | 5'8 | West Des Moines, Iowa (West Des Moines Valley HS) | Iowa PowerPlex (Club)
Lombardi has led a distinguished high school career as a two-sport athlete, starring on the volleyball court as well as the soccer pitch. A libero on the hardwood, she was an All-State Honorable Mention in 2018, as well as a member of the All-Conference First Team and All-District First Team. She earned All-Conference Second Team and All-District Second Team honors during her junior campaign in 2019.
During the 2020 season, she eclipsed 1,000 digs while helping her team to the state quarterfinals. Her WDMVHS squad finished as the state runner-up in 2017 and 2019 and was a semifinalist during the 2018 campaign. On the soccer pitch, she led her team to the state semifinals in 2017 and quarterfinals in 2018. Between both sports, she earned five Academic All-Conference honors, including volleyball recognition in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
"Payton is a powerhouse of the backcourt and we cannot wait to add her to our backline. She is a commanding presence and she has the strength needed to make more difficult plays seem routine. I am very picky about who we recruit in the backcourt, as my staff can attest, and she captures everything that I look for. We cannot wait for her to hit the ground running; there is no doubt that she will impact our team in a very positive way."
Jazmine Yamilkoski
Setter | 5'9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Xavier High School) | Six Pack Volleyball Club
Yamilkoski established herself as one of the best ever to suit up for Xavier High School, becoming the all-time record holder in both single-season and career assists. While leading XHS to the 2020 4A State title, she recorded over 800 assists on her way to MVP honors for the State Tournament and a spot on the All-Tournament Team. As a senior, she was named Iowa 4A Player of the Year, Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division Player of the Year and Metro Player of the Year.
Also in 2020, she was a unanimous MVC Valley Division selection, All-State First Team member, and All-Metro First Team honoree. Yamilkoski finished her career with over 2,800 assists in four seasons, despite spending the majority of her junior campaign playing libero due to an injury. As a sophomore, she established Xavier's all-time single-season assists record, recording more than 1,000 on the year.
"Jaz is exactly what we needed in this class. We were not only looking for a setter, but we were looking for someone that could truly take ownership of the court and take charge; she has the ability to do exactly that. She is a gritty player and is constantly looking for a way to win. It was so fun watching her compete in her state tournament and seeing how she led her team to such a dominating first-place finish. Jaz was playing with the confidence that you want to see when the pressure is on. She knew immediately that Tech would be her college home, and we felt the same way. We are excited to see what new levels she can reach here."
