USAV Selects Collegiate National Team-Japan Roster

USAV Selects Collegiate National Team-Japan Roster

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado March 25, 2019 – USA Volleyball is proud to announce its 12-player U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team – Japan Tour roster comprised of current collegiate players.

Setters named to the CNT-Japan Tour are Mica Allison (University of Illinois, White Heath, Illinois) and Saige Kaahaaina-Torres (University of Utah, Honolulu, Hawaii). The two opposites selected are Taylor Bannister (LSU, Missouri City, Texas) and Kenzie Koerber (University of Utah, Chino Hills, California). The libero will be CC McGraw (University of Minnesota, Prior Lake, Minnesota).

Middles selected to the elite CNT-Japan squad are Heather Gneiting (Brigham Young University, Pleasant Grove, Utah), Taylor Morgan (University of Minnesota, Blaine, Minnesota) and Katie Myers (University of Maryland, Westerville, Ohio). The outside hitters named to the roster are Brooke Botkin (University of Southern California, Houston, Texas), Dani Drews (University of Utah, Sandy, Utah), McKenna Melville (UCF, Egan, Minnesota) and Jacqueline Quade (University of Illinois, Fort Wayne, Indiana).

The squad will tour May 19-30 in Japan where it will have a series of training sessions and matches. The tour is unique in that the U.S. will play against Nippon Sport Science University, one of the best collegiate volleyball teams in Japan, as well as Japan’s Women’s 20 and World University Games teams. Below is the tentative match schedule:

May 22: vs. Nippon Sport Science University in Tokyo
May 23: vs. Japan Women’s U20 Team at NEC in Kawasaki
May 24: vs. Japan World University Games Team in Kawasaki
May 25: vs. Japan World University Games Team at NEC in Kawasaki
May 26: vs. Japan Women’s U20 Team at Japan National Training Center in Kita, Tokyo
May 28: vs. Okayama Seagulls in Okayama

Heather Olmstead, head coach of the Brigham Young University women’s volleyball team, will serve as the CNT-Japan Tour head coach.

“I’m excited to represent USA this summer along with 12 student-athletes from across the country,” Olmstead said. “This roster is full of experience and skill at every position. We’re looking forward to competing at a high level and experiencing the Japanese culture.”

The CNT-Japan Tour will have Jaylen Reyes and Krista Vansant as assistant coaches. Reyes is currently assistant coach at University of Nebraska, while Vansant is an assistant coach with Indiana University. TJ Read, the director of volleyball operations at UCF, will serve as the program’s technical coordinator.