COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (May 19, 2016) – USA Volleyball is proud to announce its 19-player U.S. Women’s Junior National Training Team (WJNTT) for the 2016 season.
The WJNTT includes eight outside hitters/opposites, five middles, three setters and three liberos. The WJNTT outside hitters are Morgyn Greer (Dripping Springs, Texas, Austin Juniors), Thayer Hall (Moore, South Carolina, Upward Stars Upstate), Paige Hammons (Louisville, Kentucky, KIVA), Mackenzie May (Dubuque, Iowa, Adrenaline), Emily Plock (Altoona, Iowa, IPVA), Kathryn Plummer (Aliso Viejo, California, Tstreet), Stephanie Samedy (Clermont, Florida, Top Select Volleyball Academy) and Lexi Sun (Encinitas, California, Coast VBC). Setters selected to the roster are Sydney Hilley (Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, Minnesota Select), Madison Lilley (Overland Park, Kansas, KC Power) and Ashley Shook (Plainfield, Illinois, Sports Performance).
The WJNTT middles are Brionne Butler (East Barnard, Texas, Houston Juniors), Taryn Knuth (Johnston, Iowa, Iowa Power), Lauren Sanders (Snohomish, Washington, WVBA 18 Mizuno), Brennan Wilhite (Rancho Santa Fe, California, Coast VBC) and Deja Williams (Lawrenceville, Georgia, A5). The liberos are Jamye Cox (Oregon, Ohio, Michigan Elite), Hailey Harward (Phoenix, Arizona, Aspire 18 Rox) and Samantha Worley (Kailua, Hawaii, Kaulukoa).
Laurie Corbelli, head women’s coach at Texas A&M, has been selected to serve as the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team head coach. Brian Wright (assistant coach at Texas Christian University) will serve as an assistant coach for the team, while Jesse Tupac (assistant coach at University of Denver) will serve as technical coordinator. A second assistant coach will be added to the coaching staff in the near future.
“I couldn’t be more excited to train and compete with the nation’s top junior volleyball players,” Corbelli said. “Probably some of my proudest moments have been representing the USA, and it is such a privilege for me to have the opportunity to share that pride, respect and honor with these future Olympians. We will train with intensity, integrity and fun, working to represent the USA as it should be represented. With the goal of winning the gold at NORCECA, we hope to prove to be one of the top junior teams in the world! We can’t wait to get started.”
The WJNTT is set to begin training the week of July 11 through July 24 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The final 12-player roster for the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team will be selected on July 19. The final 12 will compete in the USA Volleyball High Performance Championships held July 19-23 in Ft. Lauderdale. The team will then compete in the NORCECA Women’s U20 Continental Championship from July 24 to Aug. 1 at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale.
2016 U.S. Women’s Junior National Training Team
Name (Position, Hometown, Height, High School Grad Year, Cub, Region)
Brionne Butler (M, East Bernard, Texas, 6-3, 2017, Houston Juniors, Lone Star)
Jamye Cox (L, Oregon, Ohio, 5-3, 2017, Michigan Elite, Lakeshore)
Morgyn Greer (OH, Dripping Springs, Texas, 6-3, 2016, Austin Juniors, Lone Star)
Thayer Hall (OH, Moore, South Carolina, 6-3, 2018, Upward Stars Upstate, Southern)
Paige Hammons (OH, Louisville, Kentucky, 6-2, 2017, KIVA, Pioneer)
Hailey Harward (L, Phoenix, Arizona, 5-9, 2016, Aspire 18 Rox, Arizona)
Sydney Hilley (S, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, 5-11, 2017, Minnesota Select, North Country)
Taryn Knuth (M, Johnston, Iowa, 6-3, 2017, Iowa Power, Iowa)
Madison Lilley (S, Overland Park, Kansas, 6-0, 2017, KC Power, Heart of America)
Mackenzie May (OH, Dubuque, Iowa, 6-3, 2017, Adrenaline Volleyball Academy, Iowa)
Emily Plock (OH, Altoona, Iowa, 6-1, 2017, IPVA, Iowa)
Kathryn Plummer (OH, Aliso Viejo, California, 6-6, 2016, Tstreet VBC, Southern California)
Stephanie Samedy (OH, Clermont, Florida, 6-2, 2017, Top Select Volleyball Academy, Florida)
Lauren Sanders (M, Snohomish, Washington, 6-5, 2017, WVBA 18 Mizuno, Puget Sound)
Ashley Shook (S, Plainfield, Illinois, 6-1, 2017, Sports Performance, Great Lakes)
Lexi Sun (OH, Encinitas, California, 6-3, 2017, Coast VBC, Southern California)
Brennan Wilhite (M, Rancho Santa Fe, California, 6-3, 2017, Coast VBC, Southern California)
Deja Williams (M, Lawrenceville, Georgia, 6-2, 2017, A5, Southern)
Samantha Worley (L, Kailua, Hawaii, 5-7, 2017, Kaulukoa, Aloha)