U.S. Women’s National Team Eyes Second Volleyball Nations League Title

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, June 29, 2019 – The U.S. Women’s National Team heads into the FIVB Volleyball Nations League Finals Round July 3-7 in Nanjing, China, as the defending champion and finished this year’s 15-match preliminary round in second place.

However, the 2018 VNL title and 2019 preliminary round record are long- and short-term history with no future bearing to the current goal: winning the 2019 VNL title.

The United States, ranked third in the world, advanced to the Finals Round of six countries with a 12-3 record and 35 points through the five-week preliminary phase, matching top-seed China who had a better set ratio to claim the top spot. Brazil, Italy and Turkey all finished with 11-4 records and earned seeds three through five, respectively. The top five teams all finished within one match win of each other. Poland gained the final spot into the Finals with a 9-6 record.

As with the five preliminary round weeks, U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly and his staff have selected a balanced roster infusing veterans and younger players together to compete in the VNL Finals.

Outsides (4): Michelle Bartsch-Hackley, Mikaela Foecke, Jordan Larson, Kelsey Robinson

Opposites (2): Annie Drews, Jordan Thompson

Middles (4): Tori Dixon, Chiaka Ogbogu, Dana Rettke, Haleigh Washington

Setters (2): Lauren Carlini, Jordyn Poulter

Liberos (2): Megan Courtney, Mary Lake