JCC’s Straube ready to take ISU by storm

Iowa State ended up being Tecumseh-Johnson County Central senior Jamie Straube’s first and final choice when it came to deciding where she wanted to play collegiate volleyball.

Straube became the first Sunland area athlete in the Class of 2009 to sign a NCAA Division I Letter of Intent to play a college sport Monday.

The Johnson County senior took advantage of the early signing period to confirm the verbal commitment she’d already made to the Cyclone program.

The NCAA’s early signing period was Nov. 12-19.

The regular signing period for volleyball and a number of other NCAA sports will be April 8, 2009-Aug. 1, 2009.

“I toured there (Iowa State) the spring of my sophomore year and they offered me a scholarship,” Straube said.

Straube said she was “shocked” when Iowa State made the initial scholarship offer.

“At that point, I had no idea what I wanted to do in college,” Straube said. “I was just going on a visit to get started.”

Straube said when Cyclone coach Christy Johnson made the offer she was sure her jaw dropped.

While she liked Iowa State and its volleyball program immediately, Straube decided to “look around” at some other programs.

Close to home, Straube looked at Creighton University in Omaha and Kansas State University in Manhattan.

She also took recruiting trips to the University of Tennesse and Florida State University.

“I wanted to see both far away and close,” Straube said. “I just wanted to explore my options.”

A second visit to Iowa State, however, helped cement her desire to become a Cyclone.

“I loved the coaches and the players,” Straube said. “The school is great and they have a great program for what I want to go into.”

At Iowa State, Straube will be working toward an undergraduate degree and then a masters degree in diet and exercise.

“They have a program where I can get my masters in five years,” Straube said. “That was a big selling point for me.”

Straube said she always “told herself” to pick a college for its academics than athletics.

“In the long run, that’s what’s important,” Straube said. “I’ll play volleyball for four years, but it’s what’s after that, too.”

The campus in Ames is also about the “perfect” distance from home, Straube said.

“It’s away, but it’s not so far away,” Straube said.

Straube also liked Iowa State because its a Big 12 Conference school and she’ll be able to play at locations close to home like Lincoln and Manhattan.

She also wanted the opportunity to play at a high level, which the Big 12 offers, and is excited to be part of Iowa State’s building process.

“Christy is doing amazing things with the program,” Straube said. “She’s a great coach and she’s got great players coming in.”

Straube was one of four players officially committing with Johnson’s program during the early signing period.

According to the Iowa State athletic Web site, Straube and two other signees were among the top 100 prep players nationwide.

Straube was listed as the 22nd-ranked player, while setter Alison Landwehr from Parkway West High School in St. Louis was 24th and middle blocker Hannah Johnson from Ankeny, Iowa, High School was 63rd.

The team’s other commitment was from libero/defensive specialist Annie Meyer from Canyon Creek Christian Academy in Plano, Texas, who indicated she will walk-on at Iowa State.

“This recruiting class has the potential to be our most talented class yet,” Johnson said. “They are all exceptional athletes and have played a high level of volleyball for several years. All of them are also excellent students. This group will have a major impact on our program.”

As the 22nd-ranked player in the country, Straube is the highest-ranked player ever to sign with the Cyclones.

Johnson said Straube reminds her of former Iowa State player Erin Boeve.

“They (Straube and Boeve) have a very similar build, similar personalities and both come from very hard-working farm families,” Johnson said. “I see Jamie as a true middle blocker who has the potential to dominate the game at that position, particularly as a blocker.”

Johnson said Straube puts up a “huge block,” which makes hitters think about every shot. Her blocking ability could allow her to see the court early on with the Cycylones, the coach added.

Straube has been a key player for Johnson County Central for the past two seasons and for Tecumseh the year before the merger.

The senior earned all-area, all-conference and all-state honors during each of her first three seasons.

This year, Straube led the Lady Thunderbirds in kills (309) and ace blocks (69). She was also among the team leaders in ace serves (third with 48) and digs (fourth with 154).

Johnson County Central head coach Ben Swanson said while Straube could dominate a game single-handedly, she was much more than a talented individual player.

“Team player is the best description for Jamie,” Swanson said. “Everything she did was with her team in mind first of all.”

Swanson said Straube never let being “the most dominate player on the court” go to her head.

“Everything she did was for the betterment of the team and her teammates,” Swanson said.

As a volleyball player, Straube still has a lot of “up-side” left for the coaches at Iowa State to bring out of her, Swanson said.

Along with physical stature and natural ability, Swanson said Straube possess other characteristics which will make her a solid player in the Big 12 Conference.

“Whatever Iowa State is getting as a player, she (Straube) is an even better person,” Swanson said.

Having a Division I player come out of his program has helped build a lot of excitement for volleyball in the Johnson County district.

“We have a lot of young girls showing more interest in the game,” Swanson said.

Like many of the young players who look up to her at Johnson County, Straube started playing volleyball as a grade-schoolers.

And volleyball has always been her favorite sport, Straube said.

“I went to camps in like third and fourth grade and I loved it,” Straube said.

Straube said she gravitated to the sport initially because she was tall.

“Just because I was tall, I was good at it, at least until my feet started growing and then I was all over the place,” the 6-2 Straube said, laughing.

While her physical size helped get her interested in the sport to start with, Straube said it’s the “mental part” of volleyball that she really likes.

She said she also enjoys it being a team sport.

“You need all six players on the court,” Straube said. “In volleyball, everyone has to work together.”

In volleyball, being a solitary “great” player doesn’t mean anything, Straube said.

“If you don’t get that pass or you don’t get the set, you’re not going to get a swing anyway,” Straube said. “You have to have your teammates.”

Playing in the state tournament this year with her Johnson County teammates was one of the highlights of her prep career, Straube said.

Straube said winning the MUDECAS volleyball tournament’s A Division her junior year and then again as a senior and winning the East Central Conference Nebraska tournament as a team were also big accomplishments.

The senior also played a lot of club volleyball, competing for the Nebraska Volleyball Academy.

“Big-game experience” at the club level helped her when it came to being a leader for her high school team, Straube said.

“I know, if I need to, I can step up for my teammates,” Straube said.