Record Participants Set Bar High at Tryouts

Bill Kauffman
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 27, 2011) – USA Volleyball had a record 204 athletes participate in open tryouts for the U.S. Women’s National Team, U.S. Women’s National A2 Program and U.S. Women’s Junior National Team in sessions held Feb. 25-27 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC) in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Despite the record shattering tryout participants – previous record was 174 athletes taking part in the 2010 tryouts – the level of play on the court did not suffer.

“I thought this was by far the best Open Tryouts we have ever had for the U.S. Women’s National Team pipeline program,” USA Volleyball Managing Director of High Performance Tom Pingel said. “It was the best overall in regards to the technical level of the players and the depth on the court.”

The U.S. Women’s National Team coaching staff – including head coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) and assistant coaches Karch Kiraly (San Clemente, Calif.) and Paula Weishoff (Irvine, Calif.) – led the evaluation oversight process. According to McCutcheon, the tryouts this weekend were a success.

“Overall, I am very happy with the tryouts this weekend,” McCutcheon said. “We had a great group of athletes on the court, and our court coaches and stat crew did well in evaluating the talent. This was a good opportunity for the players to show what they could do.”

In total, the tryout had 11 wave session capped on Feb. 27 with two groups participating in tournament-style competition. For complete information on the tryout, click here to review feature stories, photo galleries and numerical roster for athletes in attendance.

Among the 204 tryout participants representing 81 different colleges were 56 outside hitters, 51 middle blockers, 46 liberos, 27 setters and 24 opposites. A total of 65 athletes were also eligible to be evaluated as U.S. Women’s Junior National Team prospects being they were born in 1992 or 1993.

The U.S. Women’s National Team program is open to athletes who have concluded their college eligibility and who wish to train full-time. This program could begin as early as March 2011, or when an athlete’s scholastic or professional club season has concluded. Athletes who will have remaining collegiate eligibility may still participate in the program with participation beginning May 2011 or when their scholastic calendar ends.

College athletes with collegiate eligibility remaining for the 2011 season and not selected to the USA Women’s National Team may be invited to participate in the U.S. Women’s National Senior A2 Team. This program is tentatively scheduled to take place in Dallas from May 23 through June 1. A projected 36 athletes will be invited to participate in the program, which will include training and competition in the 2010 USA Volleyball Open National Championships in the Open Division from May 28-31. USA Volleyball considers the event as the National Championship for the sport of volleyball in the United States. An announcement on U.S. Women’s National A2 Program selections will be made in mid-March.

Tryout participants born in either 1992 or 1993 will be also considered for the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team program. The U.S. Women’s Junior National Team will compete in the FIVB Women’s Junior (U-20) World Championship to be held July 21-30 in Peru.

Other tryout staff personnel were Tyler Adams (University of North Carolina), Molly Alvey (University of Houston), Bob Bertucci, Ben Boldt (University of Iowa), Rob Browning (Saint Mary’s College-California), Dani Busboom (University of Louisville), Jenn Carey (University of California-Berkeley), Steve Colpus (Matchpoint VBC), Denise Corlett (Stanford University), Todd Dagenais (University of Central Florida), Brittany Dildine (University of Dayton), MJ Engstrom (University at Albany), Bob Evans, Diane French (former U.S. Women’s National Team technical coordinator), Cathy George (Michigan State University), Kevin Hambly (University of Illinois), Jenni Hirneisen (Colorado State University), Mark Herrin (Austin Performance), Heath Hoke (USA Volleyball), Kathy Jewell (Purdue University), Jill Kramer (West Virginia University), Matt McShane (Air Force Academy), Dan Meske (University of Nebraska), Tak Naito (USA Volleyball), Jon Newman-Gonchar (Loyola Marymount University), Chelsea Nitta (Brigham Young University), Santiago Restrepo (University of Oklahoma), Jim Stone (USA Volleyball High Performance pipeline), Erik Sullivan (University of Texas), Marc Swindle (Air Force Academy), Daryl Tamashiro (Oahu VBC), Ed Tolentinio (Georgia Tech), Jason Watson (Arizona State University), Mary Wise (University of Florida) and Brian Wright (University of Texas).

Outside Hitters (56)
# - Name (College/H.S., Ht, College Years Left)
5R - Gillian Asque (Western Michigan, 5-11, 3)
6R - Ashley Bannister (Texas, 6-1, 3)
7R - Alaina Bergsma (Oregon, 6-3, 2)
8R - Kelsey Black (Texas A&M, 5-11, 1)
72N - Helen Boyle (N/A, 5-11, 4)
9R - Mbebui Chafeh (Cal St.-San Bernardino, 5-10, 0)
28 - Lauren Corp (St. Mary’s, 6-0, 2)
10R - Morgan Dall (Indiana St., 6-0, 2)
73N - Caitlin DeWitt (N/A, 5-10, 4)
11R - Amanda Dowdy (Texas Tech, 6-3, 1)
29 - Ashley Frazier (Kentucky, 6-1, 2)
12R - Megan Ganzer (Washington St., 6-3, 1)
95N - Adrienne Gehan (California, 6-3, 3)
74N - Rachel Gillcrist (St. Mary’s, 5-11, 4)
13R - Alexandra Gossen (Western Michigan, 6-0, 3)
75N - Crystal Graff (Wisconsin, 6-3, 4)
14R - Altrese Hawkins (Memphis, 5-11, 2)
15R - Megan Hendrickson (Duke, 6-0, 2)
76N - Lisa Henning (Missouri, 6-0, 3)
30 - Amanda Hill (Charleston Southern, 5-7, 0)
77N - Stephanie Holthus (Northwestern, 5-11, 3)
16R - Bailey Hunter (Georgia Tech, 5-11, 1)
17R - Kristy Jaeckel (Florida, 6-2, 1)
18R - Kayla Jeter (Tennessee, 5-11, 1)
19R - Brynn Joki (North Dakota St., 6-1, 2)
78N - Emily Juhl (Louisville, 5-11, 3)
79N - Madison Kingdon (Arizona, 6-0, 4)
21R - Rachel Krabacher (Dayton, 6-3, 2)
22R - Gina Mancuso (Nebraska, 6-1, 2)
23R - Allison Mayfield (Kansas, 6-0, 1)
80N - Andrea McHugh (Notre Dame, 5-10, 3)
81N - Danica Mendivil (N/A, 6-0, 3)
51N - Katie Mitchell (N/A, 6-2, 4)
96 - Tarah Murrey (California, 6-3, 1)
24R - Elizabeth Neisler (Samford, 6-1, 2)
31 - Jasmine Norton (Arkansas, 5-10, 2)
96N - Jazmine Orozco (Illinois, 6-1, 3)
34 - Analaine Pelaez (Southern Utah, 5-10, 2)
32 - Jodi Purdy (Wyoming, 5-10, 2)
82N - Kelly Reeves (UCLA, 6-0, 3)
25R - Emma Ridley (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 5-11, 0)
83N - Kelsey Robinson (Tennessee, 6-2, 3)
84N - Mollie Rogers (N/A, 6-1, 4)
30R - Elizabeth Serra-Hsu (Colorado Mines, 5-11, 0)
97N - Jordan Shaw (St. Mary’s, 5-11, 3)
85N - Taylor Simpson (Nebraska, 6-3, 4)
26R - Kimberly Smisek (St. Olaf, 6-1, 0)
52N - Malina Terrell (San Francisco, 5-10, 3)
33 - Bojana Todorovic (UCLA, 5-11, 2)
27R - Devin Trefz (North Dakota, 6-1, 1)
95 - Ariel Turner (Purdue, 6-1, 2)
86N - Nicole Walch (N/A, 6-2, 4)
28R - Colleen Ward (Illinois, 6-3, 1)
29R - Kelly Williamson (New Mexico, 6-2, 1)
87N - Ashley Wittman (Minnesota, 6-1, 3)
88N - Samantha Wopat (Stanford, 6-1, 3)

Middle Blockers (51)
# - Name (College/H.S., Ht, College Years Left)
49 - Rachael Adams (Texas, 6-2, 1)
50 - Sandra Adeleye (Clemson, 6-0, 2)
51 - Cassandra Anderson (Florida, 6-1, 1)
52 - Brittney Brimmage (Missouri, 6-3, 1)
22 - Jessica Brown (Western Michigan, 5-11, 2)
53 - Tori Brummett (Colorado St., 6-3, 3)
92N - Haley Cameron (Texas, 6-3, 3)
62N - Megan Campbell (Dayton, 6-1, 3)
99N - Samantha Cash (N/A, 6-3, 4)
93N - Tetori Dixon (Minnesota, 6-4, 3)
54N - Katherine Dutchman (Northwestern, 6-0, 4)
99 - Hilary Eppink (Notre Dame, 6-2, 2)
63N - Chloe Ferrari (San Diego, 6-1, 3)
23 - Kelli Fiegen (South Dakota St., 6-3, 2)
54 - Sareea Freeman (Florida St., 6-3, 2)
55 - Deedee Harrison (Tennessee, 6-4, 2)
56 - Lexie Hartnett (Ohio, 6-2, 3)
57 - Brittany Hewitt (Hawaii, 6-3, 2)
64N - Katherine Hoekman (San Diego, 6-0, 3)
65N - Madelyn Hutson (Texas, 6-5, 4)
58 - Cursty Jackson (Arizona, 6-1, 1)
59 - Correy Johnson (California, 6-4, 2)
24 - Gabrielle Jolly (St. Mary’s, 5-11, 2)
60 - Jennifer Keddy (Cal Poly, 6-4, 2)
61 - Alex Kelly (Lipscomb, 6-1, 0)
62 - Chrissy Knuth (North Dakota St., 6-0, 1)
63 - Alysa Long (East Tennessee St., 5-10, 0)
66N - Natalie Loos (St. Mary’s, 6-1, 3)
94N - Madison Mahaffey (Vestavia Hills H.S., 6-4, 4)
64 - Alexis Mathews (Michigan St., 6-4, 3)
67N - Sallie McLaurin (Oklahoma, 6-2, 3)
66 - Katie Murphy (Samford, 6-3, 3)
67 - Ashley Neff (Florida St., 6-3, 3)
25 - Brieon Paige (Colorado St., 6-1, 2)
50N - Aubree Piper (Texas Tech, 6-1, 3)
68 - Katie Post (Ohio, 6-2, 1)
26 - Stacy Qualizza (Indiana St., 6-1, 1)
69 - Jenilee Rathje (Michigan St., 5-11, 1)
70 - Ashley Rhoades (New Mexico, 5-11, 1)
71 - Erica Richardson (N/A, 5-8, 0)
98 - Gwen Rucker (Louisville, 6-2, 1)
97 - Kaitlyn Schultz (Central Michigan, 6-4, 1)
72 - Karly Sipherd (Nevada-Reno, 6-0, 0)
68N - Lauren Teknipp (N/A, 6-2, 4)
70N - Dominique Thompson (Wisconsin, 5-11, 3)
1R - Brittany Tillman (Washington St., 6-2, 0)
2R - Chandace Tryon (Houston, 6-0, 2)
3R - Ashley Turnage (Western Michigan, 6-0, 1)
27 - Erica Wilson (Arizona St., 6-0, 2)
71N - Carly Wopat (Stanford, 6-3, 3)
4R - Casey Wright (Albany, 6-2, 1)

Liberos (46)
# - Name (College/H.S., Ht, College Years Left)
1 - Shay Birath (South Dakota St., 5-7, 2)
55N - Jennifer Bonilla (Illinois, 5-9, 3)
2 - Allison Buck (New Mexico, 5-7, 1)
3 - Carly Cramer (Purdue, 5-6, 2)
56N - Lara Dykstra (Nebraska, 5-10, 4)
44N - Brooke Fournier (Arkansas, 5-8, 3)
4 - Chelsea Gates (Marymount, 5-7, 0)
37 - Lainey Gera (UCLA, 5-7, 1)
5 - Kaylie Gibson (North Carolina, 5-2, 1)
38 - Jessica Granquist (Minnesota, 5-9, 1)
57N - Natalie Hagglund (Southern California, 5-9, 3)
58N - Jade Hayes (Missouri, 6-0, 4)
59N - Annemarie Hickey (Wisconsin, 5-8, 3)
6 - Haley Jacob (Oregon, 5-6, 2)
7 - Kiya James (Indiana St., 5-5, 1)
39 - Stephanie Klefot (Kentucky, 5-6, 2)
40 - Jessica LaScola (Northeastern, 5-8, 0)
8 - Kim Maroon (Villanova, 5-8, 1)
41 - Ali McCurdy (Duke, 5-5, 3)
45N - Kaitlin Mosher (Florida St., 5-9, 4)
9 - Meredith Murphy (Central Florida, 5-9, 2)
46N - Micah Nolan (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 5-7, 3)
10 - Lena Oliver (Western Michigan, 5-5, 3)
60N - Sarah Palmer (Texas, 5-10, 3)
11 - Kelly Pang (Washington in St. Louis, 5-1, 2)
12 - Megan Pendergast (Nebraska, 5-6, 2)
42 - Stephanie Preach (Arizona St., 5-9, 3)
47N - Sarah Reams (St. Mary’s, 5-9, 3)
43 - Stevi Robinson (Pepperdine, 5-6, 1)
44 - Serinna Russo (West Virginia, 5-10, 1)
13 - Anna Schroeder (St. Mary’s, 5-7, 2)
14 - Francesca Silva (Notre Dame, 5-3, 1)
45 - Jordyn Skinner (Western Kentucky, 5-10, 2)
15 - Annika Smed (North Dakota, 6-0, 1)
46 - Morgan Springer (Mississippi, 5-7, 1)
16 - Elizabeth Sweeney (Western Michigan, 5-6, 2)
17 - Lisa Tobiczyk (Ferris St., 5-8, 1)
47 - Taylor Unroe (Florida, 5-7, 4)
21 - Amy Vanni (Fresno Pacific, 5-5, 0)
18 - Paige Vargas (Dayton, 5-7, 2)
19 - Jackie Vincent (Texas Tech, 5-6, 0)
61N - Alyssa Warren (Seton Hall, 5-9, 3)
20 - Carli Weiler (Michigan St., 5-4, 1)
48N - Caitlin Welch (Louisville, 5-4, 3)
48 - Courtney Whittleman (Houston Baptist, 5-8, 1)
49N - Bethany Yeager (Iowa, 5-7, 3)

Setters (27)
# - Name (College/H.S., Ht, College Years Left)
101P - Kelly Murphy (Florida, 6-2, 1)
104P - Mariah Agre (New Mexico, 5-10, 3)
150N - Rachel Alvey (San Diego, 5-8, 3)
105P - Brianne Barker (Oklahoma, 5-9, 1)
106P - Eleesha Barrett (California, 5-11, 2)
107P - Taylor Brauneis (Louisville, 5-10, 3)
108P - Morgan Broekhuis (Nebraska, 6-5, 3)
151N - Ciara Brown (VCU, 6-0, 3)
109P - Joan Caloiaro (San Francisco, 5-11, 3)
110P - Natalie Emro (Michigan St., 6-2, 1)
117P - Janelle Gabrielsen (Wisconsin, 6-1, 1)
155N - Micha Hancock (Tulsa, 5-11, 4)
156N - Madison Kamp (N/A, 6-1, 4)
111P - Michelle Kocher (Texas, 5-10, 1)
152N - Hannah Kvitle (Saint Louis, 5-10, 3)
112P - Jennifer Lopez (North Dakota St., 5-10, 1)
113P - Annie Luhrsen (Illinois, 5-11, 2)
103P - Breann Nesselhuf (Boise St., 5-9, 1)
114P - Terin Norris (Western Michigan, 5-9, 4)
102P - Breann Payton (Northern Iowa, 5-9, 1)
157N - Lauren Plum (Oregon, 5-9, 3)
153N - Kylann Scheidt (Tennessee, 6-0, 3)
158N - Kamryn Sherman (Clemson, 5-10, 4)
154N - Carly Thomas (Missouri St., 5-11, 3)
115P - Denise Van de Mortel (Gonzaga, 5-10, 1)
118P - Lauren Van Orden (UCLA, 5-11, 1)
116P - Melissa White (St. Mary’s, 6-1, 1)

Opposites (24)
# - Name (College/H.S., Ht, College Years Left)
94- Kyndra Abron (Michigan St., 6-3, 1) 31R - Rachel Barber (New Mexico, 6-1, 2)
32R - Michelle Bartsch (Illinois, 6-4, 1)
89N - Rachael Bedell (Iowa, 6-1, 3)
79 - Ashlie Christenson (Baylor, 6-0, 0)
33R - Leslie Cikra (Tennessee, 6-4, 2)
93 - Katherine Harms (Minnesota, 6-2, 2)
34R - Courtney Karst (Arizona, 6-1, 1)
92 - Michelle Kopecky (West Virginia, 6-1, 1)
35R - YVonne Marten (Dayton, 6-2, 1)
35 - Meghan Matusiak (Seton Hall, 6-0, 1)
90N - Elizabeth McMahon (N/A, 6-6, 4)
36R - Monique Mead (Georgia Tech, 5-9, 2)
91N - Chaniel Nelson (North Carolina, 6-2, 4)
74 - Stephanie Nwachukwu (Houston, 5-9, 2)
75 - Chantale Riddle (New Mexico, 6-0, 4)
36 - Katie Schuette (Central Michigan, 5-11, 2)
53N - Moneshia Simmons (Clemson, 6-0, 3)
91 - Hayley Spelman (Stanford, 6-6, 2)
76 - Shelby Staab (San Diego, 6-4, 2)
77 - Traci Vandegrift (Albany, 6-0, 3)
98N - Elise Walch (N/A, 6-5, 3)
89 - Allegra Wells (Mississippi, 6-1, 2)
78 - Ellyce Youngren (South Dakota St., 6-2, 1)

U.S. Women’s National Team Staff

Support Staff
Tyler Adams (University of North Carolina)
Molly Alvey (University of Houston)
Bob Bertucci
Ben Boldt (University of Iowa)
Rob Browning (Saint Mary’s College, California)
Dani Busboom (University of Louisville)
Jenn Carey (University of California-Berkeley)
Steve Colpus (Matchpoint VBC)
Denise Corlett (Stanford University)
Todd Dagenais (University of Central Florida)
Brittany Dildine (University of Dayton)
MJ Engstrom (University at Albany)
Bob Evans
Diane French (former U.S. Women’s National Team)
Cathy George (Michigan State University)
Kevin Hambly (University of Illinois)
Mark Herrin (Austin Performance)
Jenni Hirneisen (Colorado State University)
Heath Hoke (High Performance Coordinator)
Kathy Jewell (Purdue University)
Jill Kramer (West Virginia University)
Matt McShane (Air Force Academy)
Dan Meske (University of Nebraska)
Jon Newman-Gonchar (Loyola Marymount University)
Tak Naito (USA Volleyball staff)
Chelsea Nitta (Brigham Young University)
Tom Pingel (High Performance Managing Director)
Santiago Restrepo (University of Oklahoma)
Jim Stone (High Performance Pipeline)
Erik Sullivan (University of Texas)
Marc Swindle (Air Force Academy)
Daryl Tamashiro (Oahu VBC)
Ed Tolentino (Georgia Tech)
Jason Watson (Arizona State University)
Mary Wise (University of Florida)
Brian Wright (University of Texas)

Tags: Hugh McCutcheon, Karch Kiraly, Paula Weishoff, Rob Browning, Tom Pingel, U.S. Women's Junior National Team, U.S. Women's National A2 Team, U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team