Eight Cardinals Head to the USA Volleyball Women’s National Team Open Program
February 23, 2022 | Women's Volleyball
The Open Program runs from Feb. 25-27
Eight University of Louisville volleyball players are making the trip to the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado for the USA Volleyball Women's National Team Open Program, formerly known as the Open Tryout. The Open Program runs from Feb. 25-27.
The Open Program is part of the selection process for the U.S. Women's National Team, USA Volleyball's NCAA Elite Athlete List and the 2022 U.S. Women's Collegiate National Team. The eight Cardinals will join other current and recently graduated college-age athletes born in the years 1997-2003 in the three-day tryout period.
Ayden Bartlett, Claire Chaussee, Anna DeBeer, Elle Glock, Phekran Kong, Nena Mbonu, Paige Morningstar, and Elena Scott.
UofL is coming off its best season in history, finishing the 2021 season undefeated at 32-0, winning the ACC and advancing to the Final Four in Columbus.
Ayden Bartlett played defensive specialist for the Cardinals, recording 22 aces, 171 digs for the Cardinals, playing in 105 sets.
Chaussee, a starting outside hitter was named to the All-Louisville Regional team, HM AVCA All-East Region team, and All-ACC Second Team. She recorded 292 kills and hit .268 with 24 blocks. She was nationally ranked in kills per set (2.81).
Anna DeBeer was named as an HM All-American as well as to the All-Louisville Regional team and to the First Team AVCA All-East Region and All-ACC First Team. She led the teams in kills (343) and attacks (836) Her hitting percentage against Top 50 (.258) is better than vs. all opponents. Had 20 matches in double digit kills.
Elle Glock just transferred in from a one-year stint at USC where she red-shirted the 2021 season. The 6-1 setter from Wahoo, Nebraska was PrepVolleyball.com's 39th-ranked recruit and played for Volleyball Club Nebraska. She led Wahoo High School to the Nebraska state championship three times and concluded her career with 3,201 assists and was a two-time All-State choice.
Phekran Kong is a 6-3 middle blocker from Sioux Falls, S.D. where she played at Pentagon Volleyball Club. At Pentagon, she was on the 2018 Ultra Ankle Watch List. For her high school as a junior, she recorded 118 blocks and 296 kills last season for the Class AA runner-up. She was named First Team All-Metro Conference, and Second Team All-Metro Conference and was named to the Second Team All-State squad.
Nena Mbonu hit .243 last year for the Cardinals with nine blocks and 44 kills in 31 sets played as an outside hitter.
Paige Morningstar did not play in matches for the Cardinals this year. a 6-0 setter from Pittsburgh, Pa., played for North Allegheny and for Renaissance Volleyball club. For Renaissance, she was the TRIB Female Athlete of the Year in 2020 and won the Best Setter Award at the Washington D.C. 18 Open and was ranked in the top 150 for PrepVolleyball in 2020 and was one of PrepVolleyball's First Team All-America members in 2019. She was a three-time State Champion in Volleyball, earning First Team All State for volleyball, First Team All-District team for both basketball and volleyball.
Starting libero Elena Scott was named to the AVCA First Team All-East Region and ACC Freshman of the Week on three occasions as the only non-OH to be honored. Elena was only been aced 6 times the entire season (343 total attempts) and four RE were against Top 50. She was aced only twice in the ACC play and has also out-dug every opposing Libero in our top 25 match ups. Elena also has the longest run of the year with a 16-point serving run at Notre Dame.
UofL coach Todd Chamberlain will also make the trip to Colorado Springs where he will help evaluate the invited candidates.
The Open Program is part of the selection process for the U.S. Women's National Team, USA Volleyball's NCAA Elite Athlete List and the 2022 U.S. Women's Collegiate National Team. The eight Cardinals will join other current and recently graduated college-age athletes born in the years 1997-2003 in the three-day tryout period.
Ayden Bartlett, Claire Chaussee, Anna DeBeer, Elle Glock, Phekran Kong, Nena Mbonu, Paige Morningstar, and Elena Scott.
UofL is coming off its best season in history, finishing the 2021 season undefeated at 32-0, winning the ACC and advancing to the Final Four in Columbus.
Ayden Bartlett played defensive specialist for the Cardinals, recording 22 aces, 171 digs for the Cardinals, playing in 105 sets.
Chaussee, a starting outside hitter was named to the All-Louisville Regional team, HM AVCA All-East Region team, and All-ACC Second Team. She recorded 292 kills and hit .268 with 24 blocks. She was nationally ranked in kills per set (2.81).
Anna DeBeer was named as an HM All-American as well as to the All-Louisville Regional team and to the First Team AVCA All-East Region and All-ACC First Team. She led the teams in kills (343) and attacks (836) Her hitting percentage against Top 50 (.258) is better than vs. all opponents. Had 20 matches in double digit kills.
Elle Glock just transferred in from a one-year stint at USC where she red-shirted the 2021 season. The 6-1 setter from Wahoo, Nebraska was PrepVolleyball.com's 39th-ranked recruit and played for Volleyball Club Nebraska. She led Wahoo High School to the Nebraska state championship three times and concluded her career with 3,201 assists and was a two-time All-State choice.
Phekran Kong is a 6-3 middle blocker from Sioux Falls, S.D. where she played at Pentagon Volleyball Club. At Pentagon, she was on the 2018 Ultra Ankle Watch List. For her high school as a junior, she recorded 118 blocks and 296 kills last season for the Class AA runner-up. She was named First Team All-Metro Conference, and Second Team All-Metro Conference and was named to the Second Team All-State squad.
Nena Mbonu hit .243 last year for the Cardinals with nine blocks and 44 kills in 31 sets played as an outside hitter.
Paige Morningstar did not play in matches for the Cardinals this year. a 6-0 setter from Pittsburgh, Pa., played for North Allegheny and for Renaissance Volleyball club. For Renaissance, she was the TRIB Female Athlete of the Year in 2020 and won the Best Setter Award at the Washington D.C. 18 Open and was ranked in the top 150 for PrepVolleyball in 2020 and was one of PrepVolleyball's First Team All-America members in 2019. She was a three-time State Champion in Volleyball, earning First Team All State for volleyball, First Team All-District team for both basketball and volleyball.
Starting libero Elena Scott was named to the AVCA First Team All-East Region and ACC Freshman of the Week on three occasions as the only non-OH to be honored. Elena was only been aced 6 times the entire season (343 total attempts) and four RE were against Top 50. She was aced only twice in the ACC play and has also out-dug every opposing Libero in our top 25 match ups. Elena also has the longest run of the year with a 16-point serving run at Notre Dame.
UofL coach Todd Chamberlain will also make the trip to Colorado Springs where he will help evaluate the invited candidates.
Players Mentioned
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