Monday, 4 Nov 2024

U.S. Collegiate National Team-Europe Tour Roster Announced

USA Volleyball is thrilled to unveil the roster for its upcoming U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team Europe Tour (CNT-Europe). This 12-player roster consists of talented collegiate athletes who will train and compete in Europe from July 4-15.

Meet the Team

Middle Blockers

  • Danielle Hart from the University of Wisconsin, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
  • Kirstie Hillyer from Colorado State University, Bayfield, Colorado.
  • Berkeley Oblad from the University of Utah, Henderson, Nevada.

Outside Hitters

  • Leah Edmond from the University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
  • Amanda Green from the University of Louisville, Skokie, Illinois.
  • Jess Schaben from Iowa State University, Defiance, Iowa.
  • Avery Skinner from the University of Kentucky, Katy, Texas.

Opposites

  • Audriana Fitzmorris from Stanford, Overland Park, Kansas.
  • Taylor Mims from Washington State University, Billings, Montana.

Setters

  • Katie Oleksak from Colorado State University, Phoenix, Arizona.
  • August Raskie from the University of Oregon, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Libero

  • Alexis Dirige from Washington State University, San Francisco, California.

The head coach of the University of Louisville women’s volleyball team, Dani Busboom Kelly, will lead the CNT-Europe team. Busboom Kelly expressed her honor in representing USA Volleyball and highlighted the incredible opportunity for players to experience international volleyball and gain exposure to the competitive overseas environment. The tour provides a glimpse into the world of professional volleyball, which many of the selected players aspire to join. Busboom Kelly is excited to be part of this experience alongside a talented group of players and coaches.

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Assisting Busboom Kelly will be Branden Higa, head coach of California Baptist University, and Marie Zidek, head coach of DePaul University. Megan Smith from Illinois State University will serve as the athletic trainer, and Tim Kelly with Bring It Promotions will be the team leader.

The Journey Ahead

The team will land in Venice, Italy, on July 5. After training and friendly matches at a yet-to-be-announced location, CNT-Europe will compete in the Global Challenge from July 10-13 in Pula, Croatia.

Players with Previous Experience

Four players on the CNT-Europe roster have previously represented the U.S. Collegiate National Team program. Taylor Mims will make her second appearance on the CNT-Europe team, having been part of the roster in 2017. Amanda Green transitions to the CNT-Europe team after participating in both the 2017 CNT-Minneapolis and the 2016 CNT-Indianapolis squads. Kirstie Hillyer was a member of the 2017 CNT-Minneapolis roster, and Audriana Fitzmorris was chosen for the 2016 CNT-China Tour roster.

The High Performance Pipeline

Two players on the CNT-Europe roster, Fitzmorris and Edmond, have international experience through the USA Volleyball High Performance pipeline. Fitzmorris was part of the 2015 U.S. Women’s Junior National Team roster that competed at the FIVB Women’s U20 World Championship. Edmond made significant contributions to the 2017 U.S. Women’s Junior National Team, which participated in the 2017 FIVB Women’s U20 World Championship. Additionally, MacKenzie May helped the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team secure a gold medal at the 2017 Women’s U20 Pan American Cup.

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Selection Process

The athletes were carefully selected through the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from March 2-4.

FAQs

Please find below some frequently asked questions about the U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team Europe Tour:

  1. Q: How were the athletes selected for the team?

    • A: The athletes were chosen through the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts.
  2. Q: Who is the head coach of the CNT-Europe team?

    • A: The head coach is Dani Busboom Kelly, from the University of Louisville women’s volleyball team.
  3. Q: Which other coaches will be assisting the head coach?

    • A: Branden Higa from California Baptist University and Marie Zidek from DePaul University will serve as assistant coaches.
  4. Q: When and where will the team compete?

    • A: The team will participate in the Global Challenge from July 10-13 in Pula, Croatia.

Conclusion

The U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team Europe Tour brings together a talented group of collegiate players to represent the USA in international competition. Led by head coach Dani Busboom Kelly, the team will train, compete, and gain valuable experience in Europe. We wish them the best of luck and hope this journey helps them achieve their goals of reaching the U.S. Women’s National Team and playing professionally overseas. To stay updated on their progress, visit the official Alpinetgheep website.