COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (updated May 16, 2017) – USA Volleyball is proud to announce its U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team Europe Tour (CNT-Europe) roster comprised of current collegiate players who will train and compete in Europe from July 5-16.
Middles selected to the elite CNT-Europe squad are Corissa Crocker (University of Michigan, Brighton, Michigan), Claire Kiefer-Wright (University of Michigan, South Pasadena, California) and Jenna Rosenthal (Marquette University, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin). The outside hitters name to the roster are Symone Abbott (Northwestern University, Northville, Michigan), Courtney Schwan (University of Washington, Auburn, Washington), Carlyle Nusbaum (Lipscomb University, Overland Park, Kansas) and Jaali Winters (Creighton University, Ankeny, Iowa).
The two opposites selected to the CNT-Europe Tour are Kelsie Payne (University of Kansas, Austin, Texas) and Taylor Mims (Washington State University, Billings, Montana). The setters are Kristen Gengenbacher (University of San Diego, Quincy, Illinois) and Taira Robins-Hardy (Brigham Young University, Waimanalo, Hawaii). The libero will be Jesse Earl (Auburn University, Indianapolis, Indiana). Brittany Witt (Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska) was originally selected the libero, but was moved to the CNT-Thailand Tour roster due to that program’s libero removing herself from consideration.
University of Cincinnati Head Coach Molly Alvey will serve as the CNT-Europe head coach. She will be assisted by North Carolina State University Assistant Coach Nicki Holmes.
The CNT-Europe squad, one of three teams within the U.S. Collegiate National Team program, will compete in the 13th Annual European Global Challenge July 11-14 in Pula, Croatia, after training and friendly matches in Europe. Prior to the Global Challenge, the CNT-Europe squad will tentatively train in Maribor, Slovenia, with friendly matches versus various National Teams.
The CNT-Europe roster includes four players with experience within the U.S. Collegiate National Team program. Rosenthal and Schwan were members of the 2016 CNT-China Tour roster, while Gengenbacher and Winters were part of the 2016 CNT-Indianapolis program. Further, Payne was a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team last summer competing in the Pan American Cup.
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, Colo.
Name (Position, School, Height, College Eligibility Remaining, Hometown)
Symone Abbott (OH, Northwestern University, 6-1, 1, Northville, Michigan)
Corissa Crocker (M, University of Michigan, 6-3, 3, Brighton, Michigan)
Jesse Earl (L, Auburn University, 5-8, 1, Indianapolis, Indiana)
Kristen Gengenbacher (S, University of San Diego, 5-9, 1, Quincy, Illinois)
Claire Kiefer-Wright (M, University of Michigan, 6-1, 1, South Pasadena, California)
Taylor Mims (OPP, Washington State University, 6-3, 2, Billings, Montana)
Carlyle Nusbaum (OH, Lipscomb University, 5-10, 2, Overland Park, Kansas)
Kelsie Payne (OPP, University of Kansas, 6-3, 1, Austin, Texas)
Taira Robins-Hardy (S, Brigham Young University, 6-2, 1, Waimanalo, Hawaii)
Jenna Rosenthal (M, Marquette University, 6-6, 2, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin)
Courtney Schwan (OH, University of Washington, 6-1, 1, Auburn, Washington)
Jaali Winters (OH, Creighton University, 6-2, 2, Ankeny, Iowa)
Head Coach: Molly Alvey (head coach at University of Cincinnati)
Assistant Coach: Nicki Holmes (assistant coach at North Carolina State University)