March 17, 2011

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Volleyball has announced that three current Longhorns are among the 36 players selected to participate in the U.S. Women's National Volleyball A2 program in late spring. Junior Rachael Adams, freshman Ashley Bannister and junior Michelle Kocher have been selected to the program.

The U.S. Women's National A2 program will play in Dallas from May 23 through June 1. The program includes training and competition in the 2011 USA Volleyball Open National Championships in the Open Division from May 28-31. USA Volleyball considers the event as the National Championship for the sport of volleyball in the United States. Athletes selected to the U.S. Women's National A2 program were selected from the U.S. Women's National Team Open Tryouts held Feb. 25-27 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. A record 204 athletes participated in the three-day tryouts, representing 81 different college programs.

"Each year, the depth of talent has increased to the point that it made sense to involve 12 more athletes in the Women's A2 program and enter a third team in the USA Volleyball Open National Championships," USA Volleyball Managing Director of Indoor High Performance Tom Pingel said. "I am very much looking forward to this group of athletes and coaches assembling in Dallas in May."

The 2011 U.S. Women's National A2 Program will have six setters, nine middle blockers, 10 outside hitters, five opposites and six liberos.

A total of 22 colleges are represented in the U.S. Women's National A2 Program with The University of Texas, University of Florida, University of Illinois and University of Tennessee having three players each.

2011 U.S. Women's National A2 Program Roster
Name (College, Position, Height, College Years Left, Hometown)
Rachael Adams (Texas, MB, 6-2, 1, Cincinnati, Ohio)
Cassandra Anderson (Florida, MB, 6-1, 1, Bakersfield, Calif.)
Ashley Bannister (Texas, OH, 6-1, 3, Sugar Land, Texas)
Brianne Barker (Oklahoma, S, 5-9, 1, Amarillo, Texas)
Michelle Bartsch (Illinois, OPP, 6-4, 1, Maryville, Ill.)
Kelsey Black (Texas A&M, OH, 5-11, 1, Amarillo, Texas)
Alaina Bergsma (Oregon, OH, 6-3, 2, Chandler, Ariz.)
Jennifer Bonilla (Illinois, L, 5-9, 3, Reseda, Calif.)
Taylor Brauneis (Louisville, S, 5-10, 3, Crystal Lake, Ill.)
Brittney Brimmage (Missouri, MB, 6-3, 1, East St. Louis, Ill.)
Morgan Broekhuis (Nebraska, OPP, 6-5, 3, Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Leslie Cikra (Tennessee, OPP, 6-4, 2, Chagrin Falls, Ohio)
Carly Cramer (Purdue, L, 5-6, 2, Martinsville, Ind.)
Kelli Fiegen (South Dakota State, MB, 6-3, 2, Parkston, S.D.)
Ashley Frazier (Kentucky, OH, 6-1, 2, Oregon, Ohio)
Natalie Hagglund (Southern California, L, 5-9, 3, Encinitas, Calif.)
Cursty Jackson (Arizona, MB, 6-1, 1, Los Angeles, Calif.)
Kristy Jaeckel (Florida, OH, 6-2, 1, Littleton, Colo.)
Kayla Jeter (Tennessee, OH, 5-11, 1, Solon, Ohio)
Correy Johnson (California, MB, 6-4, 2, Winter Park, Fla.)
Madison Kingdon (Arizona, OH, 6-0, 4, Phoenix, Ariz.)
Michelle Kocher (Texas, S, 5-10, 1, Wheaton, Ill.)
Alexis Mathews (Michigan State, MB, 6-4, 3, Detroit, Mich.)
Monique Mead (Georgia Tech, OPP, 5-9, 2, Newnan, Ga.)
Kelly Murphy (Florida, S, 6-2, 1, Wilmington, Ill.)
Tarah Murrey (California, OH, 6-3, 1, El Cerrito, Calif.)
Lauren Plum (Oregon, S, 5-9, 3, Poway, Calif.)
Ashley Rhoades (New Mexico, MB, 5-11, 1, Rio Rancho, N.M.)
Kelsey Robinson (Tennessee, L, 6-2, 3, Bartlett, Ill.)
Gwen Rucker (Louisville, MB, 6-2, 1, Lexington, Ky.)
Francesca Silva (Notre Dame, L, 5-3, 1, Laguna Nigel, Calif.)
Carly Thomas (Missouri State, S, 5-11, 3, Swansea, Ill.)
Ariel Turner (Purdue, OH, 6-1, 2, Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
Colleen Ward (Illinois, OH, 6-3, 1, Naperville, Ill.)
Carli Weiler (Michigan State, L, 5-4, 1, Oak Lawn, Ill.)
Allegra Wells (Mississippi, OPP, 6-1, 2, Garland, Texas)