Feb. 15, 2010
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech junior setter Mary Ashley Tippins and freshman right-side hitter Monique Mead will be in Colorado Springs, Colo., this weekend competing for a spot on the U.S. National Volleyball Team.
The Open Tryout has 47 middle blockers, 41 outside hitters, 41 liberos, 30 setters and 15 opposites for a total of 174 athletes participating. A total of 80 colleges are represented among the tryout participants.
As part of the tryout, athletes will compete for spots in the U.S. Women’s Volleyball National Team program and the U.S. Women’s Senior A2 teams. The U.S. Women’s National Team program is open to athletes who have concluded their college eligibility and who wish to train full-time. This program could begin as early as February 2010, or when an athlete’s scholastic or professional club season has concluded. Athletes who will have remaining collegiate eligibility may still participate in the program with participation beginning May 2010 or when their scholastic calendar ends.
Athletes in college with collegiate eligibility remaining for the 2010 season and not selected to the USA Women’s National Team may be invited to participate in the USA Senior A2 Team. This program is tentatively scheduled to take place in Phoenix from May 24 through June 2. A projected 24 athletes will be invited to participate in the program, which will include training and competition in the 2010 USA Adult Open Championships in the Open Division from May 29-June 1. USA Volleyball considers the event as the National Championship for the sport of volleyball in the United States.
This tryout is open to current college-age athletes and older, as well as high school athletes born in 1991 or earlier. The U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryout is the only path for a collegiate volleyball player with remaining eligibility to access the U.S. National Team and have an opportunity to be named to the 2010 FIVB World Championship to be played Oct. 29-Nov. 14.
