COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 28, 2019) – The U.S. Women’s National Team will have a peek into its future when it holds its annual open tryout March 1-3 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
QUICK SETS
- The U.S. Women’s National Team had members on six of the 20 teams playing in European Champions League matches last week, posting a 5-1 overall record in those contests. Check below for results.
- Imoco Volley Conegliano (Kim Hill, Karsta Lowe) produced a big win over Igor Gorgonzola Novara (Michelle Bartsch-Hackley, Lauren Carlini) in the Italian Serie A1 regular season. Both Conegliano and Novara will be opposite Italian Cup semifinals this coming Saturday.
TRIVIA QUESTION: Which current U.S. Women’s National Team player has also served as a volunteer coach for the UC Irvine men’s volleyball program, aiding the Anteaters to winning the NCAA title?
NATIONAL TEAM OPEN TRYOUT: The U.S. Women’s National Team will look toward the future the first week of March as it holds its annual open tryout on the U.S. Olympic Training Center complex in Colorado Springs March 1-3. Nearly all the current U.S. Women’s National Team have participated in the open tryout process, including Jordan Larson, Kim Hill, Rachael Adams, Kelly Murphy, Carli Lloyd, Tori Dixon, Karsta Lowe and Chiaka Ogbogu. To be eligible, athletes must be U.S. citizen and either current college age athletes and older born in the years 1990-2001 inclusive, or high school athletes born in 2001 or earlier. Athletes must possess a working knowledge of offensive/defensive systems and terminology consistent with that of a typical mid- to high-level collegiate program. The tryout also serves as a means for athletes with remaining collegiate eligibility to be selected for one of two U.S. Collegiate National Team programs that will take place late this spring and early summer. Registration deadline is Feb. 13.
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 defeated Russia’s Dinamo Kazan 25-16, 25-16, 22-25, 25-22 on Jan. 22 to remain undefeated in Pool B. Larson, playing against her former club in which she was inducted into the Kazan Hall of Fame prior to the match, scored 14 points with nine kills on 24 swings, four aces on 23 serves and a block. She added a 41 positive reception percent on 46 chances. Gibbemeyer added 15 points with 10 kills on 14 errorless attacks, three aces and two blocks. Eczacibasi (3-0, 9 points) challenges Hameenlinna (0-3, 0 points) on Feb. 5 in its next Champions League Pool B match. In the Turkish League, Eczacibasi defeated third-place Fenerbahce 25-22, 31-29, 25-23 on Jan. 27. Larson contributed 12 points with nine kills on 21 swings, two blocks and an ace. She was credited with a 52 positive reception percent on a team-leading 33 chances. Gibbemeyer added six points with four kills on eight swings, one block and one ace. Eczacibasi (15-0), in first place in the Turkish League as the only undefeated team, resumes domestic league action on Jan. 30 against sixth-place Turk Hava Yollari (8-7) followed by a Feb. 2 match versus 11th-place Canakkale (3-12).
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 defeated France’s Beziers 26-24, 25-19, 25-14 on Jan. 23 to remain undefeated through three legs of the double-round robin main phase. Robinson converted 10 of her 16 attacks in to kills and added two blocks for 12 points in the victory. She also handled 10 receptions with a 60 positive percent. VakifBank (3-0, 9 points) returns to action on Feb. 6 against Maritza Plovdiv (0-3, 0 points). In the Turkish League, VakifBank swept fourth-place Galatasaray 25-21, 25-12, 25-20 on Jan. 27. Robinson scored eight kills on 21 swings and had a 75 positive reception percent on eight attempts. VakifBank (14-1) returns to Turkish League action on Jan. 30 against 10th-place Aydin B.Sehir BLD (5-10) followed by seventh-place Nilufer (8-7) on Feb. 3. Robinson has launched her own website, www.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 defeated Turk Hava Yollari 25-18, 25-21, 32-30 on Jan. 27. Drews pocketed 19 points with 13 kills on 34 swings, four aces and two blocks. Lee added 14 points with 12 kills on 29 swings and two aces. She was credited with a 47 positive reception percent on 19 chances. Hunter set the team to a 44 kill percent and added two aces and a kill. Beylikduzu (6-9), which improved two spots to eighth place in the league standings, returns to Turkish League action on Jan. 30 against 11th-place Canakkale BLD (3-12) followed by a Feb. 2 match versus ninth-place Karayollari (5-10).
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 blanked Poland’s LKS Commercecon Lodz 25-20, 25-15, 25-17 on Jan. 22 to go above .500 in Pool D. Hill collected 12 points with 10 kills on 20 swings and two aces on 12 serves. She also handled 13 receptions in the victory. Lowe, a sub in the third set, chipped in two aces on six attacks. Conegliano (2-1, 5 points) returns to Champions League action on Feb. 6 against Germany’s SSC Palmberg Schwerin (1-2, 3 points). In the Italian Serie A1, Conegliano blanked then-league-leader Igor Gorgonzola Novara 25-20, 25-18, 25-23 on Jan. 26 at Novara. Hill contributed 13 points with 10 kills on 25 swings and three aces on 13 serves. She added a 59 positive reception percent on a team-leading 22 chances. Lowe did not play in the match. Conegliano (12-3, 37 points), which moved up to second place in the Italian Serie A1, challenges 10th-place Zanetti Bergamo (7-9, 21 points) on Jan. 29 in its next league match. Conegliano will face Savino Del Bene Scandicci on Feb. 2 in the Italian Cup semifinals.
BARTSCH-HACKLEY, CARLINI WITH NOVARA IN ITALIAN LEAGUE: Outside hitter Michelle Bartsch-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 blanked France’s RC Cannes 25-15, 25-17, 25-19 on Jan. 22 to stay undefeated in Pool C. Bartsch-Hackley, starting the first two sets, scored eight kills on 14 attacks and an ace for nine points. Carlini set Novara to a 47 kill percent and .300 hitting efficiency while adding two aces and two individual kills on five attempts. Novara (3-0, 9 points) returns to Pool C action on Feb. 7 against Minchanka Minsk (0-3, 0 points). In the Italian Serie A1, Novara lost to Imoco Volley Conegliano 25-20, 25-18, 25-23 at home on Jan. 26. Bartsch-Hackley scored seven points with six kills on 22 swings and a block in the loss. Carlini set Novara to a 34 kill percent as a team and added one block, one ace and one kill. Novara (12-4, 37 points), which fell two spots to third place, plays last-place Club Italia Crai (0-16) on Jan. 30 in its next league match. Novara takes on Unet E-Work Busto Arsizio on Feb. 2 in the Italian Cup semifinals.
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 CEV Challenge Cup, Team Monza edged VDK Bank Gent 25-19, 25-13, 24-26, 19-25, 15-7 on Jan. 23 to win both matches of its 8th Finals Round home-and-home series. Neither Adams or Hancock played in the match. Team Monza advances to the 4th Finals Round (quarterfinals) to play Calcit Volley Kamnik in a home-and-home series on Feb. 5 and Feb. 13. In the Italian Serie A1, Team Monza held off Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri 25-19, 25-27, 25-20, 25-22 on Jan. 27. Hancock totaled 10 points with five kills on seven errorless swings, three aces and two blocks. She set the team to a 42 kill percent. Adams, starting the first three sets, provided five kills on 11 swings and a block for six points. On the opposite side of the net, American Jordyn Poulter got the start at setter and helped Chieri to a 39 kill percent as a team and added a block. Team Monza (9-7, 30 points), which is in fourth place during the Italian Serie A1, faces seventh-place Il Bisonte Firenze (8-8, 25 points) on Jan. 31 in its next league match.
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 nearly came back from a two-set deficit to Il Bisonte Firenze before falling 25-21, 25-18, 22-25, 24-26, 15-12 on Jan. 27. Courtney produced 14 kills on 36 swings and an ace for 15 points while holding an 87 positive reception percent on 23 chances. Tapp, who started the first two sets, had one kill on three attempts and a block for two points. Bergamo (7-9, 21 points), now in 10th place, will play second-place Imoco Volley Conegliano on Jan. 29 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 topped Lardini Filottrano 27-25, 25-20, 25-22 on Jan. 26. Washington tallied four kills in the victory on 12 attacks. Brescia (8-8, 23 points), now in eighth place, challenges ninth-place Bosca San Bernardo Cuneo (8-7, 21 points) on Jan. 30 in its next league match.
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 along with American Courtney Schwan. Filottrano lost to Banca Valsabbina Millenium Brescia 27-25, 25-20, 25-22 on Jan. 26. Whitney totaled 11 kills on 27 attacks, one ace and one block in the loss. Filottrano (4-11, 11 points), in 11th-place, resumes action on Jan. 30 against sixth-place Pomi Casalmaggiore (9-7, 26 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 defeated Jiangsu Zhongtian Iron and Steel 15-25, 30-28, 26-24, 25-22 on Jan. 22 in a hard-fought match to conclude the second round. Dixon posted 15 points with 11 kills on 16 attacks, three blocks and an ace. Kingdon Rishel did not play in the match. BAIC Motors (10-4, 28 points), which moved up one spot to second to end the second round, moves on to the top four playoffs where it will face Shanghai in a best-of-five series starting Feb. 12.
MURPHY WITH SHANGHAI VOLLEYBALL CLUB: Opposite Kelly Murphy (Wilmington, Illinois, Twitter, Instagram) is playing for Shanghai Volleyball Club this winter. Shanghai lost its second straight five-set match to conclude the second round after falling to Liaoning Yingkou Bayuquan 21-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-16, 15-10 on Jan. 22. Murphy did not play in the match. Shanghai (9-5, 27 points), which dropped one spot to third place following the loss, advances to the top four where it will play BAIC Motors in a best-of-five series that begins Feb. 12.
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 a heart-breaking 16-25, 25-16, 25-21, 19-25, 15-5 match to Russia’s Dinamo Moscow on Jan. 24. Ogbogu totaled eight kills on 19 swings and four blocks for 12 points in the five-set loss. Chemik Police (0-3, 1 point) returns to action on Feb. 6 against Turkey’s Fenerbahce (3-0, 9 points). In the Polish Orlen Liga, Chemiki Police blanked Enea PTPS Pila 25-18, 25-14, 29-27 on Jan. 26. Ogbogu hammered seven kills on 13 swings in the victory. Chemik Police (14-2, 43 points), which remains comfortably in first place with an eight-point cushion, returns to Polish Orlen Liga action on Feb. 2 against 10th-place Energa MKS Kalisz (4-11, 12 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 was upset by Ageo Medics (9-7, 25 points) 25-12, 25-27, 25-22, 25-20 on Jan. 26. Akinradewo scored 10 kills on 21 attacks and an ace for 11 points in the loss. Hisamitsu Springs struggled in its next encounter the following day, but came away with a 23-25, 26-24, 23-25, 25-18, 15-13 victory over NEC Red Rockets. Akinradewo collected 14 kills on 20 errorless attacks, three blocks and an ace for 18 points in the victory. On the opposite side of the net, American Rhamat Alhassan tallied 10 kills on 21 swings, four blocks and an ace for 15 points. Hisamitsu Springs (14-2, 41 points), in first place in the V-League Western Conference and leads both divisions, plays Eastern Conference second-place Denso (8-6, 24 points) on Feb. 3 in its next league match.
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 stopped Maritza Plovdiv 25-15, 25-21, 23-25, 25-19 in a home match on Jan. 23. Rivers scored a match-high 23 points with 21 kills on 41 swings and two blocks. McCage chipped in 13 points with nine kills on 13 errorless attacks, two blocks and two aces. Tapp added seven points with three kills on nine errorless swings, three blocks and an ace. Bugg set Stuttgart to a 46 kill percent as a team and added two kills on two swings and two aces. Wilhite Parsons did not play in the match. Stuttgart (2-1, 6 points) resumes Champions League action on Feb. 6 against France’s Beziers (1-2, 3 points). In the German Bundesliga, Stuttgart blanked VC Wiesbaden 27-25, 25-21, 25-20 on Jan. 27. Rivers picked up 24 points with 23 kills on 40 swings and a block. Wilhite Parsons pocketed 13 points in her return to the court with 10 kills on 22 swings and three blocks. She was credited with a 41 positive reception percent on 22 chances. McCage added seven kills on 10 errorless chances. Bugg set Stuttgart to a 48 kill percent as a team. Tapp did not play in the match. Stuttgart (13-0, 37 points) resumes Bundesliga action on Jan. 30 against last-place VCO Berlin (0-14, 1 point) followed by Feb. 2 match against 10th-place Straubing (3-10, 10 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 bounced back from an upset loss last week to defeat Schwarz-Weiss Erfurt 26-24, 25-20, 26-28, 25-17 on Jan. 26. Benson handled 14 receptions with a 50 positive percent and helped Dresdner to a 43 kill percent. Dresdner (10-3, 31 points), in third place, resumes Bundesliga action on Feb. 2 against eighth-place Vilsbiburg (6-7, 18 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 swept Curitiba Volei 25-13, 25-14, 25-20 on Jan. 25. Fawcett pocketed 14 points with 10 kills on 20 attacks, three blocks and an ace. Lloyd did not play in the match. Praia Clube (12-1, 36 points), which is tied for first place in the Brazilian Superliga, takes the court again on Jan. 29 against 10th-place BRB/Brasilia Volei (3-9, 9 points).
TRIVIA ANSWER: Michelle Bartsch-Hackley served as a volunteer assistant coach for the UC Irvine men’s volleyball program and helped the team win the 2013 NCAA Men’s National Championship.