COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 11, 2019) – While members of the U.S. Women’s National Team are having solid seasons in their overseas pro leagues, the deadline for future team members to register for Open Tryout is Feb. 13. The Open Tryout is for aspiring U.S. Women’s National Team members and individuals who want to be considered for the U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team program.
TRIVIA QUESTION: Which current U.S. Women’s National Team player earned the 2012 Gatorade Texas High School Player of the Year?
KARCH KIRALY INTERVIEW WITH FIVB: U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly is the only person to win Olympic gold for indoor and beach volleyball, and now leads the world’s third-ranked team. In an interview with the FIVB, Kiraly discusses his early involvement in volleyball, the differences he sees in indoor and beach volleyball, his favorite moment in his playing career, how coaching methods have evolved in volleyball, his own player idol as he grew up and which is more complicated – playing or coaching. To read the article, click here.
USAV SETS INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS RECORD: USA Volleyball has processed a record 440 international transfer certificates (327 females, 113 males) allowing United States citizens to compete in foreign professional volleyball leagues for the 2018-19 season as of Feb. 1. Last season USA Volleyball processed a then-record 435 international transfers. The 2018-19 transfer total represents an increase of 51 certificates processed since the end of November. Additional transfers, including members of the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams, will be processed throughout the winter months. On the women’s side, athletes have transferred to play in 38 different countries with Germany attracting 46 players, France 40 players, Italy 26 players, Finland 24 players, England 23 players, Finland 20 players and Switzerland 20 players.
BARTSCH-HACKLEY, CARLINI WITH NOVARA IN ITALIAN LEAGUE: Outside hitter Michelle Bartch-Hackley (Champaign, Illinois, Twitter, Instagram) and setter Lauren Carlini (Aurora, Illinois, Twitter, Instagram) are playing for Igor Gorgonzola Novara in the Italian Serie A1 and the European Champions League this winter. In the European Champions League, Novara swept Minchanka Minsk 25-16, 25-13, 25-19 on Feb. 7. Carlini set Novara to a 55 kill percent and .380 hitting efficiency while adding three individual kills on four swings, two aces and a block for six points. Bartsch-Hackley did not play in the match. Novara (4-0, 12 points) returns to Pool C action on Feb. 19 Budowlani Lodz (3-1, 8 points). In the Italian Serie A1, Novara swept Lardini Filottrano 25-22, 25-16, 25-15 on Feb. 10. Bartsch-Hackley produced nine kills on 21 swings and a block for 10 points. Carlini set Novara to a 48 kill percent while chipping in a block and kill. Novara (14-4, 43 points), which moved up to second place, plays seventh-place Il Bisonte Firenze (9-9, 29 points) on Feb. 16 in its next Italian Serie A1 match.
HILL, LOWE WITH CONEGLIANO IN ITALIAN LEAGUE: Outside hitter Kim Hill (Portland, Oregon, Instagram) and opposite Karsta Lowe (Rancho Santa Fe, California, Instagram) are playing for Imoco Volley Conegliano in the Italian Serie A1 this winter. In the European Champions League, Conegliano rallied past Germany’s SSC Palmberg Schwerin (1-3, 4 points) 23-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-19, 15-7 on Feb. 6. Lowe, who came off the bench in the second set and started the final three sets, scored a team-leading 21 points with 19 kills on 33 swings and two blocks. She tallied 15 points during the third and fourth sets alone to turn the tide. Hill added 14 points with 11 kills on 35 attacks, two blocks and one ace. She also handled 24 receptions in the victory. Conegliano (3-1, 7 points) returns to action on Feb. 20 against Italian rival Savino Del Bene Scandicci (3-1, 10 points), which leads Pool D. In the Italian Serie A1, Conegliano turned away 12th-place Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri 25-23, 25-23, 25-15 on Feb. 10. Lowe connected for 19 points with 18 kills on 35 swings and a block. Hill did not play in the match. Conegliano (14-3, 43 points), which remains in first place in the Italian Serie A1, challenges 11th-place Lardini Filottrano (4-13, 11 points) on Feb. 16 in its next Italian Serie A1 match.
ADAMS AND HANCOCK WITH TEAM MONZA IN ITALIAN LEAGUE: Middle Rachael Adams (Cincinnati, Ohio, Twitter, Instagram) and setter Micha Hancock (Edmond, Oklahoma, Twitter, Instagram) are playing for Saugella Team Monza in the Italian Serie A1 and CEV Challenge Cup this winter. In the Italian Serie A1, Team Monza rallied to defeat Bosca San Bernardo Cuneo 32-34, 25-11, 22-25, 25-20, 15-9 on Feb. 10. Hancock set Team Monza to a 42 kill percent and produced 12 individual points with four kills on six errorless attacks, five aces on 30 serves and three blocks. Adams contributed nine points with five kills on 10 swings, two aces and two blocks. Team Monza (11-7, 34 points), which moved into fourth place during the Italian Serie A1, faces third-place Savino Del Bene Scandicci (14-3, 39 points) on Feb. 17 in its next Italian Serie A1 match. In the CEV Challenge Cup, Team Monza swept Calcit Volley Kamnik 25-19, 25-18, 25-7 on Feb. 5 to open its home-and-home 4th Finals Round (quarterfinals) in Italy. Neither Adams or Hancock played in the match. The series concludes on Feb. 13 with the winner advancing to the CEV Challenge Cup semifinals.
COURTNEY AND HANNAH TAPP WITH BERGAMO IN ITALIAN LEAGUE: Libero/outside hitter Megan Courtney (Dayton, Ohio, Instagram) and Hannah Tapp (Stewartville, Minnesota, Twitter, Instagram) are playing for Zanetti Bergamo in the Italian Serie A1 during the 2018-19 pro season. Bergamo defeated Banca Valsabbina Millenium Brescia 25-13, 22-25, 25-15, 25-21 on Feb. 9. Courtney totaled 10 points with nine kills on 22 swings and a block. Tapp added three kills on six swings, four blocks and two aces for nine points. Bergamo (8-10, 24 points), now in 10th place, will play eighth-place Bosca San Bernardo Cuneo (9-8, 24 points) on Feb. 17 in its next league match.
WASHINGTON WITH BRESCIA IN ITALIAN LEAGUE: Middle Haleigh Washington (Colorado Springs, Colorado, Twitter, Instagram) is playing for Banca Valsabbina Millenium Brescia in the Italian Serie A1 this winter. Brescia lost to Zanetti Bergamo 25-13, 22-25, 25-15, 25-21 on Feb. 9. Washington pocketed nine points in the loss with seven kills on 15 swings and two blocks. Brescia (8-10, 23 points), now in ninth place, is idle this coming week.
WHITNEY WITH FILOTTRANO IN ITALIAN LEAGUE: Opposite Aiyana Whitney (Norwood, New Jersey, Twitter, Instagram) is playing for Lardini Filotrrano in the Italian Serie A1 this winter. Filottrano lost to second-place Igor Gorgonzola Novara 25-22, 25-16, 25-15 on Feb. 10. Whitney scored nine kills on 29 swings and an ace for 10 points. Filottrano (4-13, 11 points), in 11th-place, resumes action on Feb. 16 against league-leader Imoco Volley Conegliano (14-3, 43 points).
AKINRADEWO WITH HISAMITSU SPRINGS IN JAPAN: Middle Foluke Akinradewo (Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Twitter, Instagram) has returned to Hisamitsu Springs of the Japanese V-League this winter. Hisamitsu Springs swept Kurobe Aquafairies 25-20, 25-23, 25-22 on Feb. 9. Akinradewo scored 11 kills on 15 swings with just one error on offense. Hisamitsu Springs handled Okayama 25-23, 22-25, 25-18, 27-25 on Feb. 10. Akinradewo hammered 16 kills on 24 errorless attacks while adding three blocks and one ace for 20 points. Hisamitsu Springs (17-2, 49 points), in first place in the V-League Western Conference and leads both divisions, plays Hitachi Rivale on Feb. 16 in its next league match.
LARSON AND GIBBEMEYER WITH ECZACIBASI IN TURKISH LEAGUE: Outside hitter Jordan Larson (Hooper, Nebraska, Twitter, Instagram) and middle Lauren Gibbemeyer (St. Paul, Minnesota, Twitter, Instagram) are competing with Eczacibasi in the Turkish League this winter. Larson is serving as the team’s captain. In the European Champions League, Eczacibasi overwhelmed Hameenlinna (0-4, 0 points) 25-17, 25-7, 25-20 on Feb. 5. Gibbemeyer pocketed eight points with four kills on nine errorless attacks, three blocks and an ace on seven serves. Larson did not play in the match. Eczacibasi (4-0, 12 points), in first place in Pool B, challenges Russia’s Uralochka-NTMK Ekaterinburg (2-2, 5 points) on Feb. 20 in its next Champions League match. In the Turkish League, Eczacibasi eased past Karayollari 25-16, 25-14, 25-22 on Feb. 10. Larson placed 12 points on the scoresheet with 11 kills via 23 attacks and an ace. She was credited with 20 receptions and only one error. Gibbemeyer did not play in the match. Eczacibasi (18-0), in first place in the Turkish League as the only undefeated team, resumes domestic league action on Feb. 17 versus fifth-place Besiktas (8-10).
ROBINSON WITH VAKIFBANK IN TURKISH LEAGUE: Outside hitter Kelsey Robinson (Manhattan Beach, California, Twitter, Instagram, Website) is playing club volleyball with VakifBank in the Turkish professional league and European Champions League this winter. In European Champions League, VakifBank remained undefeated in Pool A with a 25-19, 25-17, 25-19 victory over Maritza Plovdiv (0-4, 0 points) on Feb. 6. Robinson pocketed 13 points with 11 kills on 19 swings and just one attack error to go with two blocks. She was credited with an 88 positive reception percent on eight receptions. VakifBank (4-0, 12 points) returns to action on Feb. 20 against Germany’s Allianz MTV Stuttgart (3-1, 9 points). In the Turkish League, VakifBank swept Halkbank 25-19, 25-16, 25-16 on Feb. 10. Robinson did not play in the match against the last place Halkbank. VakifBank (17-1) returns to Turkish League action on Feb. 17 versus sixth-place Kameroglu Beylikduzu Voleybol Ihtisas (9-9). Robinson has launched her own website, nomandplay.com on her passions for play, travel and food. In addition, Robinson has created her vlog on what it is like to be an American citizen and play professional volleyball overseas. To watch her vlogs, click here.
DREWS AND LEE WITH BEYLIKDUZU IN TURKISH LEAGUE: Opposite Annie Drews (Elkhart, Indiana, Twitter, Instagram) and Simone Lee (Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Twitter, Instagram) are competing with Kameroglu Beylikduzu Voleybol Ihtisas alongside fellow American setter Kelly Hunter in the Turkish League for the 2018-19 season. Beylikduzu rallied to defeat fifth-place Besiktas 21-25, 25-17, 23-25, 25-18, 15-11 on Feb. 10. Drews connected for 19 kills on 47 swings, six blocks and an ace for a match-high 27 points. Lee added 12 points with 10 kills on 27 attacks, one block and one ace. She also handled 37 of the team’s 85 receptions. Hunter set Beylikduzu to a 42 kill percent and added three blocks and one individual kill. Beylikduzu (9-9), which remains in sixth place returns to Turkish League action on Feb. 17 against second-place VakifBank (17-1).
OGBOGU WITH CHEMIK POLICE IN POLAND: Middle Chiaka Ogbogu (Coppell, Texas, Twitter, Instagram) is playing for Chemik Police in the Polish League and European Champions League this winter. In European Champions League action, Chemik Police lost to Turkey’s Fenerbahce (4-0, 12 points) 26-24, 25-20, 25-15 on Feb. 6 in Pool E action. Ogbogu collected eight points with five kills on 12 attacks and three blocks. Chemik Police (0-4, 1 point) returns to action on Feb. 20 against Pool E’s third-place team CSM Bucuresti (1-3, 3 points). In the Polish Orlen Liga, Chemiki Police blanked sixth-place BKS Profi Credit Bielsko-Biala (8-8, 24 points) 25-23, 25-18, 25-15 on Feb. 9. Ogbogu scored four kills on eight attacks, two blocks and an ace for seven points. Chemik Police (16-2, 48 points), which remains comfortably in first place with an eight-point cushion, returns to Polish Orlen Liga action on Feb. 15 against fourth-place Grot Budowlani Lodz (13-3, 34 points).
LLOYD WITH PRAIA CLUBE IN BRAZIL: Setter Carli Lloyd (Bonsall, California, Instagram) is playing for Praia Clube in the Brazilian Superliga this winter. Praia Clube also has former U.S. Women’s National Team member Nicole Fawcett playing at opposite. Praia Clube lost to last-place Sao Cristovao Saude Sao Caetano 25-23, 25-18, 22-25, 25-22 on Feb. 5. Lloyd set Praia Clube to a 36 kill percent in the loss. Fawcett, who started the first two sets and was a sub in the final two sets, scored 12 kills on 32 swings. Praia Clube bounced back to defeat sixth-place Sesi Volei Baura 25-17, 25-19, 26-24 on Feb. 8. Lloyd set Praia Clube to a 46 kill percent while adding four kills on five errorless attacks, two blocks and an ace for seven points. Fawcett contributed 11 points with eight kills on 22 attacks, two aces and a block. Praia Clube (14-2, 41 points), which is now in second place in the Brazilian Superliga, takes the court again on Feb. 11 against ninth-place Esporte Clube Pinheiros (5-11, 14 points) followed by eighth-place Fluminense F.C. (6-9, 18 points) on Feb. 15.
WILHITE PARSONS, PAIGE TAPP, RIVERS AND McCAGE WITH MTV STUTTGART IN GERMAN BUNDESLIGA: Outside hitter Sarah Wilhite Parsons (Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Twitter, Instagram), middles Molly McCage (Spring, Texas, Twitter, Instagram) and Paige Tapp (Stewartville, Minnesota, Twitter, Instagram), opposite Krystal Rivers and setter Madi Bugg are playing for Allianz MTV Stuttgart in the German Bundesliga. All but Bugg played for the U.S. Women in the 2018 season. In the European Champions League, Stuttgart downed France’s Beziers (1-3, 3 points) 25-19, 25-20, 25-16 on Feb. 6. McCage totaled nine points in the victory with six kills on 10 swings, two blocks and an ace. Bugg set the squad to a 50 kill percent and .391 hitting efficiency while adding three individual kills on seven swings and an ace. Tapp, a sub in the third set, tacked on one kill. Wilhite Parsons and Rivers did not play in the match. Stuttgart (3-1, 9 points), in second place in Pool A, resumes action on Feb. 20 against Turkey’s VakifBank (4-0, 12 points). In the German Bundesliga, Stuttgart downed seventh-place Munster 25-19, 25-10, 25-19 on Feb. 10. Wilhite Parsons returned to the lineup and scored six kills on 12 swings while starting just the third set and subbing in the second. Rivers scored a team-high nine points with six kills on 10 attacks, two aces and a block while subbing the first two sets and starting the third. Tapp, starting the final two sets, scored four kills on six attacks and a block for five points. McCage, who started the first two sets, added two kills on five swings, one block and one ace for four points. Bugg, who started the first two sets, helped Stuttgart to a 45 kill percent and added two aces, one block and one ace for four individual points. Stuttgart (16-0, 46 points) resumes Bundesliga action on Feb. 16 against 11th-place Erfurt (3-14, 9 points).
BENSON WITH DRESDNER IN GERMAN BUNDESLIGA: Libero Amanda Benson (Litchfield Park, Arizona, Twitter, Instagram) is playing for Dresdner SC in the German Bundesliga this winter. Dresdner was idle this past week. Dresdner (10-5, 32 points), in third place, resumes Bundesliga action on Feb. 13 against second-place Schwerin (14-1, 40 points).
DIXON AND KINGDON-RISHEL PLAYING FOR BEIJING BAIC IN CHINESE LEAGUE: Middle Tori Dixon (Burnsville, Minnesota, Twitter, Instagram) and Madi Kingdon Rishel (Phoenix, Arizona, Twitter, Instagram) are playing for Beijing BAIC Motors Volleyball Club in China during the 2018-19 pro season. BAIC Motors begins its best-of-five semifinal round series against Shanghai on Feb. 12.
MURPHY WITH SHANGHAI VOLLEYBALL CLUB: Opposite Kelly Murphy (Wilmington, Illinois, Twitter, Instagram) is playing for Shanghai Volleyball Club this winter. Shanghai begins its best-of-five semifinal round series against BAIC Motors on Feb. 12.
TRIVIA ANSWER: Chiaka Ogbogu was the 2012 Gatorade Texas High School Player of the Year after leading Coppell High School to consecutive Texas Class 5A state championship titles before going on to win four AVCA All-America honors at the University of Texas.