Thirty one of the final 36 spots in the U.S. Collegiate National Team program were announced on Monday. The group will divide into three teams (red, white and blue), which will participate in Minneapolis during the USA Girls’ Junior National Championships, at the Minneapolis Convention Center, June 27-30.
The Collegiate National Team- Minneapolis program will begin with a training session June 22-26 at the University of Minnesota. The teams will be selected and compete in a round robin format, June 27-30.
The final five spots in the CNT-Minneapolis program will remain open until after the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team completes play at the U20 Pan American Cup in May.
Among those selected thus far, players represent 25 different institutions. Purdue garnered three selections: senior setter Ashley Evans, redshirt junior opposite Sherridan Atkinson and junior libero Brooke Peters. Northwestern and Louisville each boast two selections. Senior outside hitter Symone Abbott and senior setter Taylor Tashima will represent the Wildcats, while junior middle blocker Jasmine Bennett and senior opposite Amanda Green will represent the Cardinals.
Eight Big Ten players are among the group, which features four liberos, eight middle blockers, five setters, eight outside hitters and six opposites.
Four of the players have previous CNT experience. Evans was part of the 2015 CNT-China Tour team. Washington State opposite Casey Schoenlein was part of the 2016 CNT-Europe Tour team, while Kelsey O’Neill and Missouri State’s middle Lynsey Wright were on the 2016 CNT-Indianapolis squads.
The CNT-Minneapolis squads will be coached by UCF head coach Todd Dagenais, East Tennessee State head coach Lindsey Devine and Trinity Western assistant Dennis Janzen. Assistant coaches include Jay Van Vark (Grand Canyon assistant), Lindsey Gray-Walton (Kentucky assistant) and Marie Zidek (San Diego assistant).
2017 U.S. Collegiate National Team – Minneapolis Name (Position, School, Height, College Eligibility Remaining, Hometown)
Symone Abbott (OH, Northwestern University, 6-1, 1, Northville, Michigan)
Tita Akiu (L, Texas Tech University, 5-2, 2, Honolulu, Hawaii)
Sherridan Atkinson (OPP, Purdue University, 6-5, 2, Long Beach, California)
Jasmine Bennett (M, University of Louisville, 6-2, 2, Paducah, Kentucky)
Olivia Dailey (S, University of Kentucky, 5-10, 2, Trussville, Alabama)
Brandi Donnelly (L, University of Illinois, 5-8, 1, Williamsville, Illinois)
Faith Dooley (M, University of North Dakota, 6-3, 1, Wheatland, North Dakota)
Ashley Evans (S, Purdue University, 6-1, 1, Liberty Township, Ohio)
Lauren Fuller (OH, University of San Diego, 6-3, 2, Clarendon Hills, Illinois)
Angel Gaskin (OPP, University of Maryland, 6-1, 2, Tampa, Florida)
McKenna Granato (OH, University of Hawaii, 6-0, 2, Kailua, Hawaii)
Amanda Green (OPP, University of Louisville, 6-1, 3, Skokie, Illinois)
Leah Hardeman (OH, Coastal Carolina University, 5-10, 1, Clarkston, Georgia)
Deja Harris (M, San Diego State University, 6-2, 1, Las Vegas, Nevada)
Monique Harris (S, Iowa State University, 5-9, 1, Clinton, Iowa)
Kirstie Hillyer (M, Colorado State University, 6-6, 3, Bayfield, Colorado)
Veronica Jones-Perry (OH, BYU, 6-0, 2, West Jordan, Utah)
Darrielle King (M, University of Florida, 6-3, 3, DeSoto, Texas)
Taryn Kloth (OH, Creighton University, 6-4, 2, Sioux Falls, South Dakota)
Kristyn Nicholson (S, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 6-0, 1, Lewisville, Texas)
Kelsey O’Neill (M, TBA, 6-1, 1, Skokie, Illinois)
Brooke Peters (L, Purdue University, 5-9, 2, Avon, Indiana)
Kayla Principato (OPP, University of Denver, 6-3, 1, Rockville Centre, New York)
Casey Schoenlein (OPP, Washington State University, 6-5, 1, Bellevue, Washington)
Julia Scoles (OH, University of North Carolina, 6-1, 3, Mooresville, North Carolina)
Taylor Tashima (S, Northwestern University, 6-0, 1, Wilmette, Illinois)
Brittany Thomas (L, Lipscomb University, 5-4, 1, Overland Park, Kansas)
Holly Toliver (OPP, Michigan State University, 6-2, 1, Berrien Springs, Michigan)
Stephanie Williams (OH, University of Pittsburgh, 6-0, 3, Eastlake, Ohio)
Amber Witherspoon (M, Syracuse University, 6-4, 2, Chicago, Illinois)
Lynsey Wright (M, Missouri State University, 6-0, 1, Glen Carbon, Illinois)
Head Coaches: Todd Dagenais (UCF head coach), Lindsey Devine (East Tennessee State head coach), Dennis Janzen (Trinity Western assistant volleyball coach)
Assistant Coaches: Jay Van Vark (Grand Canyon University assistant coach), Lindsey Gray-Walton (University of Kentucky assistant coach), Marie Zidek (University of San Diego assistant coach)
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