Cole, Davis and Booth Part of U.S. Collegiate National Team-Anaheim Program

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Creighton's Madelyn Cole and Keeley Davis are part of USA Volleyball's 28-player U.S. Women's Collegiate National Team – Anaheim roster comprised of current collegiate players. In addition, current Creighton head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth will serve as one of the coaches in the event, which are considered second tryouts for the U.S. Women's National Teams under NCAA rules.

Setters named to the CNT-Anaheim are Teana Adams-Kaonohi (Kansas State University, Honolulu, Hawaii), Madelyn Cole (Creighton University, Dallas, Texas), Meghan Donovan (University of Georgia, St. Louis, Missouri) and Ella Powell (University of Washington, Fayetteville, Arkansas). The liberos are Hana Lishman (Pepperdine University, Kailua, Hawaii), Kelsey Miller (University of Virginia, Crestwood, Kentucky), Emma Smith (California-Berkeley, Manhattan Beach, California) and Rachel Whipple (University of Colorado, Centennial, Colorado).

The four opposites selected are Melissa Evans (North Carolina State University, Lone Tree, Colorado), Bailee Huizenga (California-Berkeley, Temecula, California), Brooke Kanas (Texas Tech, New Braunfels, Texas) and Gloria Mutiri (Kansas State University, Sand Springs, Oklahoma).

Middles selected to the elite CNT-Anaheim squad are Preslie Anderson (California-Berkeley, Chandler, Arizona), Lauren Forte (California-Berkeley, Tempe, Arizona), Jasmine Gross (University of Southern California, Portland, Oregon), Blake Mohler (Purdue University, Ocean Springs, Mississippi), Tyanna Omazic (University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri), Regan Pittman (University of Minnesota, Spring Hill, Kansas), Lauren Sanders (University of Washington, Snohomish, Washington) and M'Kaela White (James Madison University, Riverdale, Maryland).

The outside hitters named to the roster are Brynn Carlson (Kansas State University (Woodbury, Minnesota), Samantha Drechsel (University of Washington, Woodinville, Washington), Keeley Davis (Creighton University, Highlands Ranch, Colorado), Anna Dixon (Kansas State University, Louisburg, Kansas), Kayla Lund (University of Pittsburgh, Pasadena, California), elan McCall (TCU, Leander, Texas), Valerie Valerian (University of North Texas, Sugar Land, Texas) and Roxanne Wiblin (University of San Diego, Berkeley, California).

The squad will train June 23-29 at the American Sports Centers in Anaheim, the official host city for the U.S. Women's and Men's National Volleyball Teams. The program will hold a public Red-Blue scrimmage on June 28 in the vicinity of Anaheim (site and time TBA).

The CNT-Anaheim coaches include Dan Fisher (University of Pittsburgh), Travis Hudson (Western Kentucky University), Kirsten Bernthal Booth (Creighton University) and Melissa Wolter (University of West Florida). Technical coordinators for the team are Taylor Filzen (University of Dayton) and Jess Aschenbrenner (University of Denver). Rod Wilde will serve as the mentor coach, while Jeff Wanderer has been selected as the team manager.

"CNT-Anaheim team is wonderful opportunity for these athletes," Fisher said. "For many of them it will be their first time representing the USA, getting a first look at international volleyball. Additionally, it will coincide with other national team training blocks in Anaheim giving both players and coaches a great chance to learn from the best. I am really looking forward to this training block and working again with Team USA."

Cole was named First Team All-BIG EAST and AVCA All-East Region as a junior after leading the BIG EAST with 10.92 assists per set and ranking second with 0.43 service aces per set. Davis redshirted her first year on campus with previous USA Volleyball participants Taryn Kloth and Jaali Winters enjoying All-America seasons ahead of her.

Coached by Booth, Creighton's 2018 team finished 29-5 and ranked 13th in the final AVCA poll while winning both the BIG EAST Conference regular-season and tournament titles for a fifth straight season.

Creighton has had several women play internationally with USA Volleyball in recent seasons, as Brittany Witt (Thailand, 2017), Winters (Croatia, 2017) and Kloth (China, 2018) have all represented Team USA at one time or another. In addition, Kloth (Minneapolis, 2017) and Winters (Indianapolis, 2016) also trained domestically with one of the U.S. Collegiate National Teams in recent summers.

"I'm thrilled that Madelyn and Keeley are going to get the opportunity to go get different training and to go play with other great players," said Booth. "Our other players in the past that have done it have found it to be very rewarding, and I think it gives them confidence of having other people say that we believe in you."

Athletes were selected through the U.S. Women's National Team Open Tryouts held March 1-3 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

"Personally, I'm excited for the opportunity to go and work with some phenomenal coaches and outstanding players," added Booth. "I think the national teams are going to be there so I'm excited to learn from those coaches. I see it as a great learning opportunity for all of us."

Last month USA Volleyball announced its CNT-World University Games and CNT-Japan Tour rosters. All told, 52 athletes are taking part in the Collegiate National Team program.

Notes:
Kansas State University has four players on the CNT-Anaheim roster: Teana Adams-Kaonohi, Brynn Carlson, Anna Dixon and Gloria Mutiri.
California-Berkeley and University of Washington each have three players on the CNT-Anaheim roster: Representing Cal are Preslie Anderson, Lauren Forte and Bailee Huizenga. For Washington, Samantha Drechsel, Ella Powell and Lauren Sanders are on the roster.
Teana Adams-Kaonohi (Kansas State), Keeley Davis (Creighton) and Anna Dixon (Kansas State) have four years of collegiate eligibility remaining.
Youth club KC Power and Washington Volleyball Academy each have two alums on the CNT-Anaheim roster. KC Power is represented by Anna Dixon (Kansas State) and Regan Pittman (Minnesota), while WVA has Samantha Drechsel and Lauren Sanders, who are now both with the Washington Huskies now.

U.S. Collegiate National Team - Anaheim
Name (Position, School, Height, College Eligibility Remaining, Hometown, Youth Club)
Teana Adams-Kaonohi (S, Kansas State, 6-1, 4, Honolulu, Hawaii, Rainbows VBC)
Preslie Anderson (M, California-Berkeley, 6-2, 2, Chandler, Arizona, Aspire Volleyball Club)
Brynn Carlson (OH, Kansas State, 6-4, 3, Woodbury, Minnesota, Northern Lights)
Madelyn Cole (S, Creighton, 5-10, 1, Dallas, Texas, Excel Volleyball)
Keeley Davis (OH, Creighton, 6-0, 4, Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Woodlands Wave Volleyball Club)
Anna Dixon (OH, Kansas State, 6-2, 4, Louisburg, Kansas, KC Power)
Meghan Donovan (S, Georgia, 6-3, 1, St. Louis, Missouri, Rockwood Thunder)
Samantha Drechsel (OH, Washington, 6-4, 2, Woodinville, Washington, Washington Volleyball Academy)
Melissa Evans (OPP, North Carolina State, 6-1, 3, Lone Tree, Colorado, Front Range VBC)
Lauren Forte (M, California-Berkeley, 6-3, 3, Tempe, Arizona, Club One)
Jasmine Gross (M, Southern California, 6-3, 1, Portland, Oregon, Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy)
Bailee Huizenga (OPP, California-Berkeley, 6-1, 1, Temecula, California, Forza 1)
Brooke Kanas (OPP, Texas Tech, 6-2, 3, New Braunfels, Texas, Alamo Volleyball)
Hana Lishman (L, Pepperdine, 5-8, 2, Kailua, Hawaii, Ka Ulukoa Volleyball Club)
Kayla Lund (OH, Pittsburgh, 6-0, 2, Pasadena, California, SG Elite Roshambo)
elan McCall (OH, TCU, 6-0, 3, Leander, Texas, Austin Juniors)
Kelsey Miller (L, Virginia, 5-10, 1, Crestwood, Kentucky, Union)
Blake Mohler (M, Purdue, 6-2, 1, Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Mobile Storm)
Gloria Mutiri (OPP, Kansas State, 6-2, 3, Sand Springs, Oklahoma, Club One)
Tyanna Omazic (M, Missouri, 6-2, 2, Kansas City, Missouri, PVA)
Regan Pittman (M, Minnesota, 6-5, 2, Spring Hill, Kansas, KC Power)
Ella Powell (S, Washington, 6-0, 3, Fayetteville, Arkansas, Ozark Juniors)
Lauren Sanders (M, Washington, 6-4, 2, Snohomish, Washington, Washington Volleyball Academy)
Emma Smith (L, California-Berkeley, 5-8, 1, Manhattan Beach, California, Long Beach VBC)
Valerie Valerian (OH, North Texas, 6-1, 2, Sugar Land, Texas, Club Catalyst)
Rachel Whipple (L, Colorado, 5-7, 1, Centennial, Colorado, Colorado Volleyball Association)
M'Kaela White (M, James Madison, 6-4, 1, Riverdale, Maryland, Metro Volleyball Club of DC)
Roxanne Wiblin (OH, San Diego, 6-2, 2, Berkeley, California, Encore Volleyball Club)

Cole, Davis and Booth Part of U.S. Collegiate National Team-Anaheim Program

Players Mentioned

Madelyn Cole

Keeley Davis

Taryn Kloth

Jaali Winters

Brittany Witt

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