Brauneis and Rucker Make USA A2 Volleyball Team
March 25, 2011 | Women's Volleyball
March 25, 2011
USA Volleyball named two University of Louisville volleyball players to the 2011 U.S. Women's National A2 Program roster, which is 36 players with remaining collegiate eligibility. Taylor Brauneis and Gwen Rucker will represent the Cardinals.
The U.S. Women's National A2 Program will take place 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. The setters will include Brianne Barker (University of Oklahoma, Amarillo, Texas), Taylor Brauneis (University of Louisville, Crystal Lake, Ill.), Michelle Kocher (University of Texas, Wheaton, Ill.), Kelly Murphy (University of Florida, Wilmington, Ill.), Lauren Plum (University of Oregon, Poway, Calif.) and Carly Thomas (Missouri State University, Swansea, Ill.).
Middle blockers in the 2011 A2 Program are Rachael Adams (University of Texas, Cincinnati, Ohio), Cassandra Anderson (University of Florida, Bakersfield, Calif.), Brittney Brimmage (University of Missouri, East St. Louis, Ill.), Kelli Fiegen (South Dakota State University, Parkston, S.D.), Cursty Jackson (University of Arizona, Los Angeles), Correy Johnson (University of California-Berkeley, Winter Park, Fla.), Alexis Mathews (Michigan State University, Detroit, Mich.), Ashley Rhoades (University of New Mexico, Rio Rancho, N.M.) and Gwen Rucker (University of Louisville, Lexington, Ky.).
The outside hitters comprising the 2011 A2 Program are Ashley Bannister (University of Texas, Sugar Land, Texas), Alaina Bergsma (University of Oregon, Chandler, Ariz.), Kelsey Black (Texas A&M University, Amarillo, Texas), Ashley Frazier (University of Kentucky, Oregon, Ohio), Kristy Jaeckel (University of Florida, Littleton, Colo.), Kayla Jeter (University of Tennessee, Solon, Ohio), Madison Kingdon (University of Arizona/Sunnyslope High School, Phoenix, Ariz.), Tarah Murrey (University of California-Berkeley, El Cerrito, Calif.), Ariel Turner (Purdue University, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and Colleen Ward (University of Illinois, Naperville, Ill.).
Opposites who will compete in the 2011 A2 Program are Michelle Bartsch (University of Illinois, Maryville, Ill.), Morgan Broekhuis (University of Nebraska, Colorado Springs, Colo.), Leslie Cikra (University of Tennessee, Chagrin Falls, Ohio), Monique Mead (Georgia Tech, Newnan, Ga.) and Allegra Wells (University of Mississippi, Garland, Texas).
Rounding out the 2011 A2 Program roster are liberos Jennifer Bonilla (University of Illinois, Reseda, Calif.), Carly Cramer (Purdue University, Martinsville, Ind.), Natalie Hagglund (University of Southern California, Encinitas, Calif.), Kelsey Robinson (University of Tennessee, Bartlett, Ill.), Francesca Silva (University of Notre Dame, Laguna Nigel, Calif.) and Carli Weiler (Michigan State University, Oak Lawn, Ill.).
