Hannah Tapp, Justine Wong-Orantes Among 4 New Call-Ups for Team USA

USA Volleyball has called up 4 more players to join its training camp in Anaheim, California as it finalizes preparations for the upcoming FINA World Grand Prix, among other summer commitments. The 4 join the 18 players who opened camp on May 1st, with at least 4 more players likely to join the camp after their club commitments wrap up this week.

The new additions are outside hitter Michelle Bartsch, setter Val Nichol, middle blocker Hannah Tapp, and libero Justine Wong-Orantes all join the group.

Bartsch is the most experienced of the group, having been an alternate on the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s team at outside hitter. She just finished her pro season with Neruda Volley, resulting in her late arrival to camp.

Similarly, setter Val Nichol and Hannah Tapp come after finishing their pro seasons in Germany. For Tapp, who in the fall was an All-American at the University of Minnesota, this completed her first pro season with SSC Palmberg Schwerin. For both players, this is their first time in a senior USA Volleyball National Team training camp.

The 4th addition is Justine Wong-Orantes, who becomes the 3rd libero on the roster joining Morgan Heise and Amanda Benson. Wong-Orantes just finished her beach, and academic, year at the University of Nebraska, and was regarded as the best collegiate libero in the country last season.

In addition, 4 Americans that will begin play this week at the FIVB Club World Championships in Japan are likely to join the camp later in the month. That includes Jordan Larson and Rachael Adams with Turkish side Eczacibasi, Kim Hill with Turkish side Vakifbank, and Foluke Akinradewo in her last tournament with Switzerland’s Volero Zurich.

Updated Roster, as of May 8th.

Player (Position, 2016-17 Pro Club, College, Hometown)

• Inky Ajanaku (Middle, Rehabbing in USA, Stanford, Tulsa, Oklahoma)
• Rhamat Alhassan (Middle, College Senior-to-Be, Florida, Glenarden, Maryland)
• Michelle Bartsch (Outside, Bolzano (Italy), Illinois, Maryville, Illinois)
• Amanda Benson (Libero, Final Season in College, Oregon, Litchfield Park, Arizona)
• Danetta Boykin (Outside, None, Cal St.-Northridge, Los Angeles, California)
• Madi Bugg (Setter, NUC (Switzerland), Stanford, Apex, North Carolina)
• Megan Courtney (Outside, Wroclaw (Poland), Penn State, Dayton, Ohio)
• Lexi Dannemiller (Setter, Schweriner (Germany), Michigan, West Chester, Ohio)
• Tori Dixon (Middle, Rehabbing in USA, Minnesota, Burnsville, Minnesota)
• Micha Hancock (Setter, Wroclaw (Poland), Penn State, Edmond, Oklahoma)
• Morgan Heise (Libero, Final Season in College, SMU, Hempstead, Texas)
• Madi Kingdon (Outside, IBK (Korea), Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona)
• Molly McCage (Middle, Wiesbaden (Germany), Texas, Spring, Texas)
• Liz McMahon (Opposite, Dresden (Germany), Illinois, Liberty Township, Ohio)
• Kelly Murphy (Opposite, Henan (China), Florida, Wilmington, Illinois)
• Sonja Newcombe (Outside, Sichuan (China), Oregon, Lake Arrowhead, California)
• Val Nichol (Setter, MTV Stuttgart (Germany), Purdue, Normal, Illinois)
• Krystal Rivers (Opposite, Final Season in College, Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama)
• Amber Rolfzen (Middle, Dresden (Germany), Nebraska, Papillion, Nebraska)
• Kadie Rolfzen (Opposite, Dresden (Germany), Nebraska, Papillion, Nebraska)
• Hannah Tapp (Middle, Schweriner (Germany), Minnesota, Stewartville, Minnesota)
• Justine Wong-Orantes (Libero, Final Season in College, Nebraska, Cypress, California)