USA Volleyball has announced the 12-player U.S. Women’s Junior National Team roster that will compete at the 2018 NORCECA Women’s U20 Continental Championship from June 18th-23rd in Mexico. This will be Mexico’s 5th time hosting the tournament in its 11th edition – no other country has hosted more than once.
The U.S. team will train in Colorado Springs, Colorado from June 8th-15th before heading to Aguascalientes in the center of the country. On the line in the 12-team tournament is an automatic qualifying spot at the 2019 U20 World Championships for the winner. The U.S. was 7th at the 2017 edition of those World Championships – the host of the 2019 event has not yet been announced.
The Americans hosted this tournament for the first time in 2016, though they lost in the final to the Dominican Republic. The U.S. has won 6 of the 10 editions dating back to 1998.
Of the 12 players, none have begun their collegiate careers, with 5 graduating in 2018 and the other 7 graduating in 2019. All but 3 of the players have committed to colleges, and Texas leads the way with 3 future Longhorns on the roster, including Logan Eggleston, who will make her official debut this fall (she’s already playing with Texas this spring, including on their European tour). They’re the only team with 3 committed members of the team, so far.
2018 U.S. Women’s Junior National Team, By College:
- Texas – 3
- Uncommitted – 3
- Oregon – 1
- Auburn – 1
- Nebraska – 1
- Duke – 1
- North Carolina – 1
- USC – 1
8 members of this year’s team have moved up from the team that played at last year’s FIVB U18 World Championships and finished 8th. The list includes that team’s 3 leading scorers: Eggleston, Madison Kubik, and setter Allison Mica.
Players from 2017 U18 Worlds Team
- Skylar Fields
- Mica Allison
- Madison Kubik
- Selina Xu
- Brooke Nuneviller
- Logan Eggleston
- Madison Horin
“This year’s WJNT features twelve outstanding athletes from across the country,” said U.S. Women’s Junior National Team Head Coach Keegan Cook, who also is the head women’s coach at the University of Washington. “Collectively, they form a team with a diverse range of skill, experience, physicality and potential. These young women represent the bright future of USA Volleyball and we are looking forward to seeing them compete together.”
2018 U.S. Women’s Junior National Team
# – Name (Position, Height, HS Grad Year, Hometown, Club, Region, College Commitment)
3 – Brooke Nuneviller (L, 5-11, 2018, Chandler, Arizona, Aspire Volleyball Club, Arizona, University of Oregon)
5 – Mica Allison (S, 6-0, 2018, White Heath, Illinois, Illini Elite, Great Lakes, Auburn University)
6 – Selina Xu (S, 6-0, 2019, San Carlos, California, Vision Volleyball, Northern California, Uncommitted)
9 – Madison Kubik (OH, 6-2, 2019, West Des Moines, Iowa, Iowa Powerplex TPP, Iowa, University of Nebraska)
10 – Adeola Owokoniran (M, 6-2, 2018, Raleigh, North Carolina, Triangle VBC, Carolina, Duke University)
11 – Anita Anwusi (M, 6-3, 2019, Houston, Texas, Houston Juniors, Lone Star, Uncommitted)
12 – Caitlin Baird (OH, 6-3, 2019, Indianapolis, Indiana, Circle City Volleyball Club, Hoosier, Uncommitted)
13 – Destiny Cox (OH, 6-3, 2018, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Triangle VBC, Carolina, University of North Carolina)
14 – Logan Eggleston (OH, 6-3, 2018, Franklin, Tennessee, Alliance Mizuno 18-1, Southern, University of Texas)
15 – Skylar Fields (OH, 6-2, 2019, Missouri City, Texas, Houston Juniors, Lone Star, University of Texas)
16 – Madison Horin (M, 6-3, 2019, Munster, Indiana, First Alliance, Great Lakes, University of Southern California)
17 – Molly Phillips (M, 6-4, 2019, Mansfield, Texas, Texas Image Volleyball, North Texas, University of Texas)
Head Coach: Keegan Cook (head coach at University of Washington)
Assistant Coaches: Rob Browning (head coach at Saint Mary’s College, California), Jenny Hazelwood (club director with Infinity Volleyball Academy)
Technical Coordinator: Jon Wong (assistant coach at Bradley University)
Doctor: Dr. William Feldner
Team Leader: Tayyiba Haneef-Park
Alternates to 2018 U.S Women’s Junior National Team
# – Name (Position, Height, Hometown, Club, Region)
1 – Zoe Fleck (L, 5-4, Granada Hills, California, Sunshine VBC, Southern California)
2 – Amelia Tuaniga (S, 5-9, Long Beach, California, Apex 1, Southern California)
4 – Anna Debeer (OH, 5-11, Louisville, Kentucky, ASISCS KIVA, Pioneer)
7 – Allison Martinez (OH, 6-0, Montebello, California, San Gabriel Elite Volleyball, Southern California)
8 – Lauren Clark (OH, 6-0, Plymouth, Minnesota, Minnesota Select, North Country)
18 – Kentessa Lawson (M, 6-4, O’Fallon, Missouri, Show Me Volleyball Academy, Gateway Region)
2018 NORCEA Women’s U20 Continental Championship Schedule (times are listed as PT)
Group A
June 18: Guatemala vs. Cuba, 2 p.m. PT
June 18: United States vs. Puerto Rico, 4 p.m. PT
June 19: Guatemala vs. Puerto Rico, 2 p.m. PT
June 19: United States vs. Cuba, 4 p.m. PT
June 20: United States vs. Guatemala, 2 p.m. PT
June 20: Puerto Rico vs. Cuba, 4 p.m. PT
Group B
June 18: Dominican Republic vs. Costa Rica, noon PT
June 18: Mexico vs. Honduras, 6 p.m. PT
June 19: Dominican Republic vs. Honduras, noon PT
June 19: Mexico vs. Costa Rica, 6 p.m. PT
June 20: Costa Rica vs. Honduras, noon PT
June 20: Dominican Republic vs. Mexico, 6 p.m. PT
Quarterfinals
June 21: Group A 2nd Place vs. Group B 3rd Place, 4 p.m. PT
June 22: Group B 2nd Place vs. Group A 3rd Place, 6 p.m. PT
Classification 5-8
June 22: Group A 4th Place vs. Quarterfinal Round Loser, noon PT (Match 13)
June 22: Group B 4th Place vs. Quarterfinal Round Loser, 2 p.m. PT (Match 14)
Semifinals
June 22: Group A 1st Place vs. Quarterfinal Winner, 4 p.m. PT
June 22: Group B 1st Place vs. Quarterfinal Winner, 6 p.m. PT
Final Classification 7-8
June 23: Losers of Match 13 and 14, noon PT
Final Classification 5-6
June 23: Winners of Match 13 and 14, 2 p.m.
Bronze Medal
June 23: Semifinal losers, 4 p.m. PT
Gold Medal
June 23: Semifinal winners, 6 p.m. PT
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