Cresse and Scott Named to US Collegiate National Team
June 22, 2024 | Women's Volleyball
University of Louisville volleyball player Cara Cresse and Elena Scott were announced by USA Volleyball as two of the14 players selected to compete at the NORCECA Women's Final Six Pan American Cup on June 26-30 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. UofL senior Anna DeBeer was named as an alternate.Â
The 14 players on the roster are all current collegians who will compete for the United States while the senior Women's National Team prepares for the Paris Olympic Games.
"We are treating NORCECA Final 6 as the first tournament of the new Olympic cycle that eventually leads to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles," U.S. Women's Head Coach Karch Kiraly said.
"We are really excited about the future possibilities and potential of the athletes on this roster who will represent our women's senior national team."
The setters are Kami Miner and Mia Tuaniga. The liberos are Lexi Rodriguez and Elena Scott. Sarah Franklin, Eva Hudson, Taylor Landfair and Jess Mruzik are the outside hitters on the team. Olivia Babcock and Merritt Beason are the opposites.
The middle blockers are Carter Booth, Cara Cresse, Sophie Fischer and Khori Louis.
"Many of these athletes have the potential to have a real impact with our U.S. National Team on the international level in years to come," Kiraly said.
Brad Rostratter, head coach for the UC San Diego men's volleyball team, will be the head coach for the Final Six team. He will be assisted by Jonathan Charette (Long Beach City College) and Tayyiba Haneef-Park (San Diego Mojo).
"It is an honor for us to have such a special group in the gym," Rostratter said. "Individually, they have all accomplished so much in their young careers. Collectively, seeing this group come together and represent the USA is a special experience for our staff."
The U.S. Women are the defending Final Six champions, having won with Rostratter in 2023. The U.S. Women took silver in 2022.
U.S. Roster for the NORCECA Women's Final Six Pan American Cup
No. Name (Position, Height, Hometown, College, USAV Region)
1 Olivia Babcock (Opp, 6-4, Los Angeles, Calif., Pitt, Southern California)
2 Merritt Beason (Opp, 6-3, Gardendale, Ala., Univ. of Nebraska, Southern)
3 Carter Booth (MB, 6-7, Englewood, Colo., Univ. of Wisconsin, Rocky Mountain)
4 Cara Cresse (MB, 6-6 Fort Wayne, Ind., Univ. of Louisville, Hoosier)
6 Sophie Fischer (MB, 6-5, Fort Mill, S.C., Univ. of Georgia, Palmetto)
7 Sarah Franklin (OH, 6-4, Lake Worth, Fla., Univ. of Wisconsin, Florida)
8 Eva Hudson (OH, 6-1, 2004, Fort Wayne, Ind., Purdue, Hoosier)
9 Taylor Landfair (OH, 6-4, Plainfield, Ill., Univ. of Nebraska, Great Lakes)
10 Khori Louis (MB, 6-3, Tallahassee, Fla., Florida State, Florida)
11 Kami Miner (S, 6-0, Redondo Beach, Calif., Stanford, Southern Cal)
12 Jess Mruzik (OH, 6-2, Livonia, Mich., Penn State, Lakeshore)
13 Lexi Rodriguez (L, 5-5, Sterling, Ill., Univ. of Nebraska Great Lakes)
14 Elena Scott (L, 5-9, Louisville, Ky., Univ. of Louisville, Pioneer)
19 Mia Tuaniga (S, 5-9, Long Beach, Calif., University of Southern California, Southern California)
Alternates
5 Rachel Fairbanks (S, Pitt)
15 Anna Dodson (MB, UCLA)
16 Lauren Briseño (L, Baylor University)
17 Chloe Chicoine (OH, Purdue University)
18 Anna DeBeer (OH, University of Louisville)
20 Mary Georgiades (L, University of Houston)
21 Megan Wilson (Opp, University of Kentucky)
22 Sami Francis (MB, Stanford University)
23 Jordan Iliff (Opp, University of Missouri)
24 Kate Lang (S, University of Hawaii)
