Thursday, 21 Nov 2024

U.S. Women’s Volleyball Team Begins 2017 Training Season

U.S. Women's Volleyball Team

The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team has officially kicked off its training season for 2017. The team began its first official practice at the American Sports Centers in Anaheim, California, the official host city for both the U.S. Women’s and Men’s National Teams.

New Season, New Opportunities

Ranked No. 2 in the world and coming off a bronze medal finish at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, the U.S. Women’s National Team is gearing up for another successful season. The first day of practice saw 16 athletes on the court, including 2016 Olympian Kelly Murphy and three-year team veteran Tori Dixon, who is recovering from an ACL injury. Additional players will be added to the training roster as they complete their overseas pro leagues or academic year. It’s important to note that training rosters are subject to weekly changes with new athletes being added or removed. All practices are open to the public and take place on weekdays from 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Meet the Players

Here are some of the key players on the U.S. Women’s National Team training roster:

  • Inky Ajanaku (Middle Blocker, Stanford)
  • Rhamat Alhassan (Middle Blocker, Florida)
  • Amanda Benson (Libero, Oregon)
  • Danetta Boykin (Outside Hitter, Cal St.-Northridge)
  • Madi Bugg (Setter, Stanford)
  • Megan Courtney (Outside Hitter, Penn State)
  • Lexi Dannemiller (Setter, Michigan)
  • Tori Dixon (Middle Blocker, Minnesota)
  • Morgan Heise (Libero, SMU)
  • Madi Kingdon (Outside Hitter, Arizona)
  • Micha Hancock (Setter, Penn State)
  • Molly McCage (Middle Blocker, Texas)
  • Liz McMahon (Opposite, Illinois)
  • Kelly Murphy (Opposite, Florida)
  • Sonja Newcombe (Outside Hitter, Oregon)
  • Krystal Rivers (Opposite, Alabama)
  • Amber Rolfzen (Middle Blocker, Nebraska)
  • Kadie Rolfzen (Opposite, Nebraska)
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Please note that Lexi Dannemiller’s first day of training will be on May 4.

Exciting Matches Ahead

The U.S. Women’s National Team is set to face off against Brazil in the USA Volleyball Cup, a two-match series taking place on August 27 and August 29 at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena. The U.S., currently ranked No. 2 in the world, will go head-to-head with Brazil, ranked No. 4, in a thrilling matchup. Tickets for these matches will be available for purchase in early May.

U.S. Collegiate National Team-Minneapolis Roster

USA Volleyball has announced 31 out of 36 players who will participate in the U.S. Collegiate National Team-Minneapolis program. This program serves as a second tryout for the U.S. Women’s National Team and allows athletes to train and compete at the University of Minnesota from June 22-26. Afterward, the athletes will be assigned to one of three 12-member teams and compete in a round-robin format at the Minneapolis Convention Center from June 27-30. The final five spots on the roster will be determined based on the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team’s results at the Women’s U20 Pan American Cup.

U.S. Women’s Players Abroad

Several U.S. Women’s National Team players are also competing internationally. Here’s an update on their performances:

Kim Hill with Turkey’s VakifBank

Kim Hill, a bronze medalist at the 2016 Olympic Games, is currently playing for Turkey’s VakifBank in the Turkish League playoffs. VakifBank recently claimed third place by winning both matches against Eczacibasi. Kim Hill made valuable contributions in these matches, and VakifBank will go on to compete in the FIVB Women’s Club World Championships in Kobe, Japan.

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Jordan Larson and Rachael Adams with Turkey’s Eczacibasi

Jordan Larson and Rachael Adams, both members of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team, are playing for Eczacibasi in the Turkish League. Although Eczacibasi finished in fourth place after losing to VakifBank in the playoffs, Larson and Adams have shown their skills and will compete in the FIVB Women’s Club World Championships.

Kelsey Robinson and Nicole Fawcett with Italy’s Conegliano

Kelsey Robinson and Nicole Fawcett are representing Italy’s Conegliano in the Italian Serie A1. Although Conegliano did not advance in the playoffs, Robinson and Fawcett demonstrated their abilities throughout the season.

Carli Lloyd and Lauren Gibbemeyer with Italy’s Casalmaggiore

Carli Lloyd and Lauren Gibbemeyer are back in Italy, playing for Pomi Casalmaggiore in the Italian Serie A1 league and the CEV Cup. Casalmaggiore unfortunately lost in the semifinals, but Lloyd and Gibbemeyer contributed significantly to the team’s efforts.

Foluke Akinradewo with Switzerland’s Volero Zurich

Foluke Akinradewo has been playing for Volero Zurich in the Swiss League, where the team has had a remarkable undefeated streak since January 2012. Volero Zurich is set to compete in the FIVB Women’s Club World Championships.

Upcoming Friendly Match

The U.S. Women’s National Team will face the Canadian Women’s National Team in a friendly match on June 13 at JSerra High School in San Juan Capistrano, California. This match will be the first international contest for Team USA since winning bronze at the 2016 Olympic Games.

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Red-Blue Scrimmage Schedule

Fans in Southern California have the opportunity to watch the U.S. Women’s National Team in action during the Red-Blue intrasquad matches. Here are the scheduled dates and locations:

  • May 12: Murrieta Mesa High School (Murrieta, California), 7 p.m.
  • May 19: To be announced in Southern California, 7 p.m.
  • May 26: Santiago Canyon College (Orange, California), 6 p.m. (doubleheader with U.S. Men’s National Team)
  • June 2: Kennedy High School (La Palma, California), 7 p.m.
  1. What is the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team’s ranking?
  • The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team is currently ranked No. 2 in the world.
  1. Can the public attend the team’s practices?
  • Yes, all practices at the American Sports Centers in Anaheim are open to the public.
  1. When will the U.S. Women’s National Team face Brazil?
  • The USA Volleyball Cup series against Brazil will take place on August 27 and August 29 at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena.

The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team is gearing up for an exciting season ahead. With a combination of experienced players and new talent, the team is ready to take on challenges and achieve success on the international stage. Fans can look forward to thrilling matches, both domestically and internationally, as the team continues to strive for excellence. Stay tuned for more updates and support the U.S. Women’s National Team in their journey towards victory!

For more information about the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, visit Alpinetgheep.