COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (July 2, 2019) – After seeing two other Collegiate National Teams start and finish their tours, it’s time for both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Collegiate National Team – World University Games squads to start theirs.
The 30th Summer Universiade, colloquially known as the World University Games, begin Wednesday, July 3 in Naples, Italy. First serve for the two volleyball tournaments take place Friday, July 5.
The U.S. Men’s Collegiate National Team – World University Games (MCNT – WUG) will start things for the Americans. They begin pool play with a match July 5 at 5:30 p.m. local/11:30 a.m. Eastern against South Korea. They’ll also face China July 6, Russia July 8, and Portugal July 9 to conclude Pool B play. Playoff rounds begin July 11.
Twenty men’s teams will be split into four pools of five teams each at the 2019 World University Games. The top two squads in each pool will move onto the championship playoff bracket, and the rest will compete in placement brackets. Taipei 2017 medalists Iran, Russia and Japan are all in Naples to defend their spots on the podium.
The U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team – World University Games (WCNT – WUG) also begins its tournament July 5, with an 8 p.m. local/2 p.m. Eastern matchup against host nation Italy. The next day, the Americans take on Switzerland, and they round out pool play July 7 with a match against Japan, 2017’s silver medalist.
Sixteen teams will compete in the women’s tournament, and they’ll be split into four pools of four teams. Like the men’s playoff brackets, the top two from each group advance to the championship bracket while the rest will compete in a placement bracket. Also as with the men, all three medalists from 2017 – Russia, Japan, and Ukraine – return for the latest Summer Universiade.
While Naples is officially hosting the World University Games, the volleyball tournaments will take place in surrounding locales in the south of Italy. All three women’s pool matches will take place in Eboli while the men will play matches in Eboli, Ariano Irpino, and Benevento.
2019 MCNT – World University Games Roster
- No. Name (Position, Height, Hometown, College)
- 1 Jaylen Jasper (Opp, 6-7, Annapolis, Md., Stanford)
- 2 Brett Wildman (OH, 6-5, Virginia Beach, Va., Penn State)
- 3 Garrett Zolg (S, 6-3, Huntington Beach, Calif., Loyola Chicago)
- 4 Brandon Rattray (Opp, 6-5, San Diego, Calif., UCLA)
- 5 Parker Dixon (OH, 6-6, Dallas, Texas, Princeton)
- 6 Michael Simmons (L, 6-4, Aurora, Ill. Lewis)
- 7 Ethan Siegfried (OH, 6-1, Honolulu, Hawaii, Long Beach State)
- 8 Raymond Barsemian (OH, 6-6, La Crescenta, Calif., Concordia University Irvine)
- 9 Chandler Gibb (S, 6-2, Huntington Beach, Calif., Concordia University Irvine)
- 10 Tyler Mitchem (MB, 6-11, Bolingbrook, Ill., Lewis)
- 11 Kyler Presho (MB, 6-8, San Clemente, Calif., Stanford)
- 12 Blake Leeson (MB, 6-7, Mequon, Wis., Ohio State)
- Head Coach: Ryan Perrotte (Purdue Fort Wayne)
- Assistant Coach: Morteza Shiari
2019 WCNT – World University Games Roster
Name (Position, School, Height, College Eligibility Remaining, Hometown, Youth Club)
- Kara Bajema (OH, Washington, 6-2, 1, Lynden, Washington, Washington Volleyball Academy)
- Lauren Barnes (L, Wisconsin, 5-6, 2, Naperville, Illinois, 1st Alliance Volleyball Club)
- Diana Brown (S, Illinois, 6-0, 4, Columbus, Ohio, Mintonette Sports)
- Kylie DeBerg (OH, Missouri, 6-4, 2, Hudson, Iowa, Club Iowa)
- Kennedy Eschenberg (MB, BYU, 6-5, 2, Bountiful, Utah, Club V)
- Tori Dilfer (S, Louisville, 5-10, 2, San Jose, California, Encore)
- Audriana Fitzmorris (OPP, Stanford, 6-6, 1, Overland Park, Kansas, Invasion)
- Madeleine Gates (MB, UCLA, 6-3, 1, San Diego, California, Coast Volleyball)
- Meghan McClure (OH, Stanford, 6-0, 2, Rancho Santa Margarita, California, Laguna Beach VBC)
- Avie Niece (MB, Washington, 6-0, 1, Bellevue, Washington, Sudden Impact VBC)
- Adanna Rollins (OH, Minnesota, 6-0, 3, Carrollton, Texas, Texas Advantage)
- Stephanie Samedy (OPP, Minnesota, 6-2, 2, Clermont, Florida, Top Select Volleyball Academy)
- Head Coach: Keegan Cook (University of Washington)
- Assistant Coach: Beth Launiere (University of Utah)