Players, Coaches in NCAA Semis Have Ties to USAV NTDP

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo (Dec 14, 2023) – Players and coaches from all four of the teams in the NCAA D1 Women’s Volleyball National Championship semifinals have ties to USA Volleyball’s National Team Development Program (NTDP) and even to its national teams.

Look for these players and coaches on Thursday night when Pittsburgh plays Nebraska at 4 p.m. PT. Thirty minutes after the first semi is over, defending champion Texas will play Wisconsin. Both matches are on ESPN.

The NCAA Championship match will air on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 12 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on ABC.

Here are some highlights from each team. Click the link to view all the connections for each school: NCAA/NTDP Connections

Nebraska

Bekka Allick, Ally Batenhorst, Merritt Beason, Laney Choboy, Andi Jackson, Caroline Jurevicius, Lindsay Krause, Maggie Mendelson, Harper Murray, Kennedi Orr, Bergen Reilly and Lexi Rodriguez all played on medal-winning NTDP national teams.

Reilly also set for the U.S. Women’s National Team that competed at the 2022 NORCECA Final Six and won silver.

Assistant Coach Jordan Larson, a Nebraska alumna, is a three-time Olympic medalist with a gold from the 2020 Games in Tokyo. She is still competing with the Women’s National Team as it prepares for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Assistant Coach Jaylen Reyes was an assistant coach with the 2019 Women’s Collegiate National Team.

Pitt

Olivia Babcock, Blaire Bayless, Rachel Fairbanks, Bre Kelley, Emmy Klika and Torrey Stafford were all part of medal-winning NTDP national teams.

Head Coach Dan Fisher served as the head coach for NTDP medal-winning national teams. He has also coached the Collegiate National Team and the Women’s National Team that competed at the Pan American Cup.

Texas

Asjia O’Neal played with the U.S. Women’s National Team at the 2023 Volleyball Nations League.

Nya Bunton, Devin Kahahawai, Molly Phillips, Marianna Singletary, Ella Swindle and Jenna Wenaas were all part of medal-winning NTDP national teams.

Madison Skinner was part of the 2021 Women’s Collegiate National Team.

Head Coach Jerritt Elliott has coached NTDP national teams.

Associate Head Coach Erik Sullivan is a two-time Olympian who has served as a team leader for the Men’s National Team.

Associate Head Coach David Hunt has served as an assistant coach with the Women’s and Men’s National Teams as well as coaching NTDP national teams.

Assistant Coach Cursty LaRoux played with the Women’s National Team and has helped coach NTDP national teams.

Assistant to the Head Coach Jon Wong has worked with NTDP national teams and the Women’s Collegiate National Team.

Wisconsin

Carter Booth, CC Crawford, Saige Damrow, Devyn Robinson and Ella Wrobel were part of NTDP national teams. Sarah Franklin was on the 2022 Women’s Collegiate National Team.

Assistant Coach Annemarie Hickey worked with the Women’s Collegiate National Team.