COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 22, 2021) – Four teams remain in the 2020 NCAA DI Women’s Volleyball National Championship. In Thursday’s semifinals, No. 2 Kentucky will face No. 6 Washington and No. 1 Wisconsin will take on No. 4 Texas.
All four teams are packed with players that have been part of USA Volleyball’s National Team Development Program (formerly known as High Performance).
On Thursday, Kentucky setter Madison Lilley was named the AVCA Player of the Year. Lilley competed on two USAV junior national teams and a collegiate national team. She played with the U.S. Women’s Team that won the 2019 Pan American Cup and also competed at the 2019 Pan Am Games.
Ohio State opposite Emily Londot was named AVCA Freshman of the Year. Londot competed on the 2018 Girls Youth National Team that won the NORCECA U18 Championship and the 2019 Youth National Team that won the FIVB U18 World Championship. She was also named to the 2020 Women’s Junior National Team that never got to compete due to the pandemic.
Here are more players in this year’s NCAA DI semifinals with USAV National Team Development Program experience.
KENTUCKY
Setter Madison Lilley – 2016 WJNT that took silver at NORCECA Championship; 2017 Women’s Junior National Team that won the Pan Am Cup; 2018 Collegiate National Team that went 4-1 in China; 2019 U.S. Women’s Team that won the Pan Am Cup; 2019 Pan Am Games Team
Libero Gabby Curry – 2017 Women’s Junior National Team that competed at Worlds; 2019 Pan American Cup Team; 2019 Pan American Games Team
Outside hitter Sophie Fischer – Member of Women’s Junior A1 in 2018 and 2019
Opposite Reagan Rutherford – 2018 Girls Youth National Training Team
Outside hitter Avery Skinner – 2018 Collegiate National Team that played in Europe
Outside hitter Alli Stumler – 2020 Collegiate National Team – Gold Roster
Opposite Azhani Tealer – 2019 Women’s Junior National Team that competed at worlds, 2020 Collegiate National Team – Anaheim
TEXAS
Middle blocker Brionne Butler – 2015 Youth National Team that competed at Worlds; 2016 Youth National Team that took silver at NORCECA Championship, named Best Blocker; 2017 Junior National Team that won the Pan Am Cup and competed at Worlds; 2019 U.S. Women’s Team that won gold at the Pan Am Cup; Invited to train with the U.S. National Team in Anaheim in spring, 2020
Setter Naomi Cabello – 2018 and 2019 Junior National Team Training Team
Outside hitter Logan Eggleston – 2016 Youth National Team that won silver at the NORCECA Championship; 2017 Youth National Team that competed at the World Championship; 2018 team captain of the Junior National squad that won the NORCECA Championship; 2019 Junior National Team that competed at Worlds; Invited to train with the U.S. National Team in Anaheim in spring, 2020
Opposite Skylar Fields – 2016 Youth National Team that won silver at the NORCECA Championship; 2017 Youth National Team that competed at the World Championship; 2018 Junior National Team that won the NORCECA Championship; 2019 Junior National Team that competed at Worlds; Invited to train with the U.S. National Team in Anaheim in spring, 2020
Middle blocker Molly Phillips – 2018 Junior National Team that won the NORCECA Championship; 2019 Junior National Team that competed at the World Championship
Outside hitter Madison Williams – 2019 USAV Junior National Training Team; 2017 USAV Youth National Team
WASHINGTON
Outside hitter Samantha Drechsel – 2019 Collegiate National Team – Anaheim
Outside hitter Madi Endsley – 2018 Youth National Training Team
Middle blocker Marin Grote – 2020 Collegiate National Team – Gold Roster
Claire Hoffman – 2020 Collegiate National Team – Anaheim Roster
Middle Blocker Avie Niece – 2019 Collegiate National Team that competed at World University Games
Setter Ella May Powell – 2016 Youth National Team that won silver at the NORCECA Championship; 2019 Junior National Team that competed at the Pan Am Cup and World Championship
Middle blocker Lauren Sanders – 2015 Youth National Training Team; 2016 Junior National Team that won silver at the NORCECA Championship; 2018 Collegiate National Team; 2020 Collegiate National Team – Gold Roster
Middle blocker Sophie Summers – 2016 Youth National Team that won silver at the NORCECA U18 Championship; 2020 Collegiate National Team – Gold Roster
WISCONSIN
Setter Izzy Ashburn – 2020 Collegiate National Team – Gold roster
Libero Lauren Barnes – 2019 Collegiate National Team that competed at the World University Games; 2020 Collegiate National Team – Anaheim Roster
Outside hitter Jade Demps – 2018 Youth National Training Team
Setter MJ Hammill – Competed at High Performance Championships
Middle blocker Danielle Hart – 2018 Collegiate National Team that competed at Global Challenge
Setter Sydney Hilley – 2016 Junior National Team that won silver at NORCECA Championship; invited to 2020 spring training block
Libero Sydney Reed – 2020 Junior National Training Team
Middle blocker Dana Rettke – 2018 Collegiate National Team that went 4-1 in China; 2019 Women’s National Team that won gold at Volleyball Nations League; 2019 Women’s National Team that won Tokyo Olympic Qualifier
Middle blocker Devyn Robinson – 2018 Girls Youth National Team that won gold at NORCECA Championship; 2019 Girls Youth National Team that won gold at World Championship; 2020 Junior National Training Team; 2020 Collegiate National Team – Gold Roster