COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (May 18, 2016) – USA Volleyball is proud to announce its 24-player U.S. Girls’ Youth National Training Team (GYNTT) for the 2016 season.
The GYNTT includes three liberos, seven middles, 10 outside hitters/opposites and four setters. The GYNTT liberos are Mackenzie Cole (Oakdale, New York, Long Island VBC), Kenzie Knuckles (Muncie, Indiana, Munciana VBC) and Brooke Nuneviller (Chandler, Arizona, Aspire VBC). The middles are Holly Campbell (Austin, Texas, Austin Juniors). Sophia Dorsch-Summers (Beaverton, Oregon, Athena Volleyball Academy), Serena Gray (San Gabriel, California, San Gabriel Elite), Kaitlyn Hord (Lexington, Kentucky, Lexington United VBC), Kendall Kipp (Newport Beach, California, Momentous VBC), Molly Phillips (Mansfield, Texas, Texas Image) and McKenna Vicini (Lexington, Kentucky, Lexington United VBC).
The GYNTT outside hitters/opposites are Caitlin Baird (Indianapolis, Indiana, Circle City), Logan Eggleston (Franklin, Tennessee, Alliance VBC), Skylar Fields (Missouri City, Texas, Houston Juniors), Mia Grunze (Waterford, Wisconsin, Milwaukee Sting), Allison Martinez (Montebello, California, San Gabriel Elite), Kalen Owes (Phoenix, Arizona, East Valley Juniors), Taylor Rowland (Charlotte, North Carolina, Carolina Juniors), Brooklyn Schirmer (Long Beach, California, Mizuno Long Beach VBC), Haley Warner (Fayetteville, Arkansas, Ozark Juniors) and Riley Zuhn (Fort Collins, Colorado, NORCO VBC). The selected setters are Erin O’Leary (Novi, Michigan, Legacy VBC), Ella Powell (Fayetteville, Arkansas, Ozark Juniors), Kylie Robinson (Upland, California, San Gabriel Elite) and Melani Shaffmaster (New Castle, Indiana, Munciana VBC).
Erin Virtue, associate head coach at Northwestern University, has been selected to serve as the U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team head coach. Stacy Sykora (USA Volleyball) will serve as an assistant coach for the team, while Jared Hazel (formerly of Colorado State University) will serve as technical coordinator. A second assistant coach will be added to the coaching staff in the near future.
“On behalf of the entire coaching staff, we are thrilled to announce this exceptional group as the 2016 U.S. Girls’ Youth National Training Team,” Virtue said. “These 24 athletes are among the best in the nation in their age group and will compete to represent USA at the NORCECA Championship. Our staff is honored to implement and teach the core values, philosophies and strategies of our U.S. Women’s National Team to these young athletes. The High Performance pipeline is a critical piece to achieving success at the highest levels in USA Volleyball and we are excited to create a culture of learning within this training group.”
Tentatively, the GYNTT will train July 11-24 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with the final 12-player U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team (GYNT) roster selected on July 19. The squad, along with the alternates, will compete in the USA Volleyball High Performance Championships held July 19-23 in Fort Lauderdale. The team will reconvene in Puerto Rico and compete in the NORCECA Women’s U18 Continental Championship with tentative dates set for Aug. 26-Sept. 5.
2016 U.S. Girls’ Youth National Training Team
Name (Position, Hometown, Height, HS Grad Year, Volleyball Club, Region)
Caitlin Baird (OH, Indianapolis, Indiana, 6-3, 2019, Circle City VBC, Hoosier)
Holly Campbell (M, Austin, Texas, 6-4, 2018, Austin Juniors, Lone Star)
Mackenzie Cole (Libero, Oakdale, New York, 5-9, 2018, Long Island Volleyball Academy, Garden Empire)
Sophia Dorsch-Summers (M, Beaverton, Oregon, 6-3, 2019, Athena Volleyball Academy, Columbia Empire)
Logan Eggleston (OH, Franklin, Tennessee, 6-2, 2019, Alliance VBC, Southern)
Skylar Fields (OH, Missouri City, Texas, 6-2, 2019, Houston Juniors, Lone Star)
Serena Gray (M, San Gabriel, California, 6-3, 2018, San Gabriel Elite VBC, Southern California)
Mia Grunze (OH, Waterford, Wisconsin, 6-2, 2018, Milwaukee Sting, Badger)
Kaitlyn Hord (M, Lexington, Kentucky, 6-4, 2018, Lexington United VBC, Pioneer)
Kendall Kipp (M, Newport Beach, California, 6-4, 2019, Momentous VBC, Southern California)
Kenzie Knuckles (Libero, Muncie, Indiana, 5-8, 2019, Munciana VBC, Hoosier)
Allison Martinez (OH, Montebello, California, 6-0, 2018, San Gabriel Elite, Southern California)
Brooke Nuneviller (Libero, Chandler, Arizona, 5-10, 2018, Aspire VBC, Arizona)
Erin O’Leary (S, Novi, Michigan, 5-10, 2018, Legacy VBC, Lakeshore)
Kalen Owes (OH, Phoenix, Arizona, 6-2, 2019, East Valley Juniors, Arizona)
Molly Phillips (M, Mansfield, Texas, 6-4, 2019, Texas Image VBC, North Texas)
Ella Powell (S, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 6-0, 2018, Ozark Juniors, Delta)
Kylie Robinson (S, Upland, California, 5-10, 2018, San Gabriel Elite VBC, Southern California)
Taylor Rowland (OH, Charlotte, North Carolina, 6-3, 2018, Carolina Juniors, Carolina)
Brooklyn Schirmer (OH, Long Beach, California, 6-1, 2018, Mizuno Long Beach VBC, Southern California)
Melani Shaffmaster (S, New Castle, Indiana, 6-3, 2020, Munciana VBC, Hoosier)
McKenna Vicini (M, Lexington, Kentucky, 6-2, 2019, Lexington United VBC, Pioneer)
Haley Warner (OH, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 6-1, 2018, Ozark Juniors, Delta)
Riley Zuhn (OH, Fort Collins, Colorado, 6-5, 2019, NORCO VBC, Rocky Mountain)