COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (updated April 10, 2017) – USA Volleyball is proud to announce its 12-player U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team Thailand Tour (CNT-Thailand) roster comprised of current collegiate players who will train and compete in Bangkok from May 19-30.
Middles selected to the elite CNT-Thailand squad are Kaz Brown (University of Kentucky, Waterloo, Iowa), Morgan Johnson (University of Texas, DeSoto, Texas) and Chiaka Ogbogu (University of Texas, Coppell, Texas). The outside hitters named to the roster are Lily Johnson (Missouri State University, Wildwood, Missouri), Madison Ridgon (University of Kansas, Plugerville, Texas), Micaya White (University of Texas, Frisco, Texas) and McKenna Woodford (Washington State University, Chandler, Arizona).
The two opposites selected to the CNT-Thailand Tour are Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani (University of Texas, Los Angeles) and Jordan Thompson (University of Cincinnati, Edina, Minnesota). The setters are Taylor Hughes (Ohio State University, Carroll, Ohio) and Taylor Nelson (Cal Poly, Granite Bay, California). The libero will be Brittany Witt (Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska). Ashley Dusek (University of Kentucky, East Bernard, Texas) was originally selected as the libero, but removed herself from consideration after the announcement.
Texas Head Coach Jerritt Elliott will serve as the CNT-Thailand head coach. He will be assisted by Concordia University Irvine Head Coach Paula Weishoff, a three-time U.S. Olympian who earned silver in 1984 Olympics and bronze in 1992 Olympics, and University of Dayton assistant coach Alyssa D’Errico.
The match schedule will include contests against the Thailand National Team, the Thailand U23 Team and Bangkok Glass, the top team in the Thai professional league. The CNT-Thailand team will also play against two other teams yet to be confirmed. The team training and competition matches will be at the FIVB Development Center in Bangkok, one of only four such centers in Asia.
The CNT-Thailand roster includes four players from the 2016 NCAA runner-up University of Texas Longhorns. The squad has eight players with experience within USA Volleyball’s Collegiate National Team Program. Brown, Rigdon and Thompson were members of last year’s CNT-China Tour roster, while Hughes, Lily Johnson and Woodford were part of the CNT-Europe Tour roster. Dusek and Nelson were part of the CNT-Indianapolis program last summer.
Athletes were selected through the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts held March 3-5 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado
U.S. Collegiate National Team-Thailand Tour Roster
Name (Position, School, Height, College Eligibility Remaining, Hometown)
Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani (OPP, University of Texas, 6-4, 2, Los Angeles, California)
Kaz Brown (M, University of Kentucky, 6-4, 1, Waterloo, Iowa)
Taylor Hughes (S, Ohio State University, 2, 6-1, Carroll, Ohio)
Lily Johnson (OH, Missouri State University, 5-11, 1, Wildwood, Missouri)
Morgan Johnson (M, University of Texas, 6-3, 2, DeSoto, Texas)
Taylor Nelson (S, Cal Poly, 1, 6-0, Granite Bay, California)
Chiaka Ogbogu (M, University of Texas, 6-2, 1, Coppell, Texas)
Madison Ridgon (OH, University of Kansas, 6-0, 1, Pflugerville, Texas)
Jordan Thompson (OPP, University of Cincinnati, 2, 6-4, Edina, Minnesota)
Micaya White (OH, University of Texas, 6-1, 3, Frisco, Texas)
Brittany Witt (L, Creighton Universiyt, 5-8, 3, Omaha, Nebraska)
McKenna Woodford (OH, Washington State University, 6-4, 2, Chandler, Arizona)
Head Coach: Jerritt Elliott (head coach at University of Texas)
Assistant Coach: Paula Weishoff (head coach at University of Concordia Irvine)
Assistant Coach: Alyssa D’Errico (assistant coach at University of Dayton)