Jennings commits to Texas

Patrick Laverty

Alyson Jennings, an All-CIF Southern Section performer at Newport

Harbor High in girls volleyball, made an oral commitment on Tuesday

to attend the University of Texas.

Jennings, who will enter her senior year in the fall, visited UCLA

and Texas before making her commitment. She said UCLA couldn’t

guarantee her a scholarship, but it was the overall atmosphere of

Austin that won her over.

“I loved it,” Jennings said of the Texas capital. “I liked it a

lot. When you see it, it’s like you know this is where you’re

supposed to be.

“The whole college atmosphere is great, the town is into all the

sports. It basically shuts down for football games.”

The 5-foot-9 Jennings might not have much time to take in those

football games playing for a Longhorns team that went 23-9 and

reached the second round of the NCAA tournament last year.

This season, Jennings is expected to lead a Sailors squad that

will be defending its CIF Division II-AA championship. A three-year

starter, Jennings was named to the All-Sea View League team and the

Daily Pilot Dream Team, in addition to her all-CIF honors.

The early commitment should take one extra burden off her

shoulders as the Sailors attempt to improve upon last year’s 28-7

record.

Jennings also considered the University of San Francisco along

with UCLA and Texas. She will become the third Newport Harbor athlete

in three years to accept an athletic scholarship from Texas,

following Aaron Peirsol (swimming) and Amy Burlingham (soccer).

The distance from home isn’t a concern for Jennings.

“I know my parents and my sister will come out a lot and watch,”

Jennings said. “It’s only a three-hour plane flight. And we come out

here to play games too.”

Oral commitments are non-binding until a national letter of intent

is signed. National signing day for volleyball players is in

mid-November.