Sunday, 8 Dec 2024

U.S. Women Invite 17 to Spring Training Block

The U.S. Women’s National Team is excited to announce that 17 talented players have been invited to participate in a spring training block from March 16-23 in Anaheim, California. The training will take place at the American Sports Centers, the host city for the U.S. Women’s and Men’s National Teams.

During this training block, all 17 athletes will be evaluated for additional training opportunities with the full U.S. Women’s National Team. They will also have the chance to make international rosters, including the Pan American Games and Pan American Cup.

Notably, the training group includes 10 athletes with collegiate eligibility remaining. For these athletes, this training block serves as an extended tryout in compliance with NCAA rules.

Players Invited to the Training Block

The training group consists of a diverse range of players with exceptional skills. The selected middles include Rachael Kramer from the University of Florida, Avie Niece from the University of Washington, Dana Rettke from the University of Wisconsin, and Tionna Williams, also from the University of Wisconsin. The outside hitters invited to the training block are Leah Edmond from the University of Kentucky, Mikaela Foecke from the University of Nebraska, Yossiana Pressley from Baylor University, Jacqueline Quade from the University of Illinois, and Kadie Rolfzen from the U.S. Women’s National Team.

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The setters invited to the extended tryout are Sydney Hilley from the University of Wisconsin, Madison Lilley from the University of Kentucky, and Samantha Seliger-Swenson from the University of Minnesota. The opposite hitters in the spring training block are Taylor Bannister from LSU, Oluoma Okaro from Arizona State University, and Jordan Thompson from the University of Cincinnati. The two liberos are Reyn “Tita” Akiu from the University of Hawaii and Justine Wong-Orantes from the U.S. Women’s National Team.

Coach’s Perspective

U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly expressed his excitement about working with this talented group of athletes. He emphasized the dedication and pursuit of mastery that each player brings to the team. He also thanked the college programs for their support in making this training camp a reality.

Player Notes

  • Justine Wong-Orantes and Kadie Rolfzen have had the opportunity to train with the U.S. Women’s National Team in the past two years.
  • Five athletes, Tita Akiu, Taylor Bannister, Avie Niece, Jacqueline Quade, and Jordan Thompson, recently participated in the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryout held in Colorado Springs.
  • All 17 athletes have utilized the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryout to gain access to this second tryout, whether in 2019 or in previous years.
  • Tita Akiu, Samantha Seliger-Swenson, Mikaela Foecke, and Tionna Williams have exhausted their collegiate eligibility following the 2018 season.

In summary, the U.S. Women’s National Team is thrilled to invite these 17 talented athletes to their spring training block. This training presents a fantastic opportunity for evaluation and the potential to join international rosters. The dedication and passion of these players, combined with the expertise of the coaching staff, bring great excitement for the future of women’s volleyball.

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