Monday, 15 Jul 2024

204 Athletes Participate in Women’s Open Tryout

The U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryout is an exciting event that took place on February 21-23, 2020, at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This tryout attracted a total of 204 talented athletes from various colleges across the United States. These athletes competed for the opportunity to secure spots in the elite high performance pipeline.

Evaluating Athletes for National Team and Collegiate Programs

The primary objective of this tryout was to evaluate athletes from 94 different colleges nationwide for positions on the U.S. Women’s National Team and the U.S. Collegiate National Team (CNT) program. Additionally, three athletes aimed to try out for the 2020 U.S. Women’s Junior National Team. The tryout featured a diverse breakdown of positions, with 62 outside hitters, 45 liberos, 36 middles, 37 setters, and 24 opposites.

Guidance from Head Coach Karch Kiraly

Head Coach Karch Kiraly, a highly respected figure in the volleyball world, oversaw the entire tryout process. Kiraly expressed his enthusiasm for the CNT program in 2020, emphasizing the importance of teaching, learning, and training. The coaching staff prioritized imparting crucial aspects of the Women’s National Team program, including culture, principles, philosophies, techniques, and tactics. The setting of the tryout, the U.S. Olympic Women’s Team home in Anaheim’s American Sports Centers, offered a multitude of opportunities for inspiration and growth.

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An Intense Tryout Schedule

The tryout comprised four sessions, each with three waves. The first session started on Friday at 2 p.m. and lasted until 8 p.m. On Saturday, there were two sessions at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. The final session on Sunday commenced at 7:30 a.m. and included tournament-style play. Following the tryout, 16-18 athletes were selected by the U.S. Women’s National Team staff to participate in a “USA” training session. The tryout concluded at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.

A Proven Pathway to Success

Many current members of the U.S. Women’s National Team have previously participated in open tryouts and successfully secured positions within the talent pipeline. Some athletes have joined the senior level team directly, while others have used their selection for the U.S. Collegiate National Team program as a stepping stone toward the national team in the future.

The U.S. Collegiate National Team Program

The 2020 U.S. Collegiate National Team program will comprise 56 selected athletes divided into two training time periods. Both programs will train alongside athletes selected for the U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team and its coaching staff in Anaheim. The CNT Gold training will take place from July 5-12, including an international competition in the Southern California area. The CNT Anaheim group will train from June 21-27 and participate in a Red-Blue intrasquad match in the same region. Selections for the U.S. Collegiate National Teams will be finalized by the end of March.

Next Steps for the Selected Athletes

Athletes chosen for the U.S. Women’s National Team will be able to commence their training in Anaheim, California, as early as the spring of 2020 or after completing their scholastic or professional club season.

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FAQs

Q: Who oversees the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryout?
A: Head Coach Karch Kiraly leads the tryout process.

Q: What types of positions were evaluated at the tryout?
A: The tryout included outside hitters, liberos, middles, setters, and opposites.

Q: How many athletes participated in the tryout?
A: A total of 204 athletes competed in the tryout.

Q: When will the selections for the U.S. Collegiate National Teams be announced?
A: The selections will be made by the end of March.

Conclusion

The U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryout was a showcase of talent and determination. With athletes from various colleges vying for spots in the national team and the collegiate program, the event demonstrated the depth of women’s volleyball in the United States. The selected athletes will now embark on the next stage of their volleyball journeys, with the potential to represent their country on the international stage.