The University of Kentucky volleyball program will be represented in the 16-player U.S. Women’s Junior National Training Team by newcomer Gabby Curry and Leah Edmond for which the final 12-player roster will be selected for the 2017 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U20 World Championship.
The WJNTT will train July 2-12 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The 12-player team will be announced at a later time.
“Both Leah and Gabby had a great tryout and they both earned their way onto this training team,” head coach Craig Skinner said. “It’s a great opportunity for them and we’re excited for their chance to train at the Olympic Training Center.”
The World Championship event will be staged July 14-23 in Boca del Rio and Cordoba, Mexico. The USA U20 squad qualified for the World Championship by winning the 2017 U20 Pan American Cup in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Fellow newcomer Madison Lilley was part of the team that won the Pan American Cup that sent the USA team to the FIVB U20 World Championship. She has joined her team at Kentucky and has enrolled in summer school.
Curry comes to Kentucky as the No. 46 recruit in the nation. The Buford, Georgia, native was an Under Armour All-American and two-time Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year in high school. She helped win two Georgia state championships, helping her claim two Georgia Player of the Year awards.
Edmond finished her impressive freshman campaign at Kentucky with a third team All-America honor. The Lexington native was the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Region Freshman of the Year and Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year. During the season, she earned SEC Freshman of the Week eight times and SEC Player of the Week twice.
For more information on the USA Volleyball 16-player U.S. Women’s Junior National Training Team, visit the National Team’s site.
U.S. Women’s Junior National Training Team
# – Name (Position, 2017 Club/College, Height, Hometown, Region)
1 – Brionne Butler (M, University of Texas, 6-4, Kendleton, Texas, Lone Star)
2 – Tiffany Clark (L, TBA, 5-11, Naperville, Illinois, Great Lakes)
3 – Thayer Hall (OH, Upward Stars, 6-3, Moore, South Carolina, Palmetto)
4 – Paige Hammons (OH, University of Florida, 6-2, Louisville, Kentucky, Pioneer)
5 – Regan Pittman (M, University of Minnesota, 6-5, Spring Hill, Kansas, Heart of America)
6 – Holly Carlton (OPP, University of North Carolina, 6-7, Sterling, Virginia, Chesapeake)
7 – Elle Sandbothe (M, Kansas State University, 6-0, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Heart of America)
8 – Ronika Stone (OPP, University of Oregon, 6-2, San Jose, California, Northern California)
10 – Mikayla Shields (OPP, University of South Carolina, 6-0, Orlando, Florida, Florida)
11 – Norene Iosia (S, University of Hawaii, 5-11, Torrance, California, Southern California)
12 – MacKenzi Welsh (S, University of Michigan, 6-1, Bolingbrook, Illinois, Great Lakes)
13 – Franny Arnautou (S, Yale University, 5-11, San Francisco, California, Northern California)
14 – Gabby Curry (L, University of Kentucky, 5-9, Buford, Georgia, Southern)
15 – Rachael Kramer (MB, University of Florida, 6-8, Phoenix, Arizona, Arizona)
16 – Denise Ssozi (OH, Air Force Academy, 5-8, Johnston, Iowa, Iowa)
17 – Leah Edmond (OH, University of Kentucky, 6-2, Lexington, Kentucky, Pioneer)
Head Coach: Laurie Corbelli (head coach at Texas A&M University)
Assistant Coach: Blake Rawlins (head trainer at Top Select Volleyball Academy)
Team Leader: Tom Pingel (USA Volleyball High Performance)
‑ GO CATS –
For more information contact:
Mike Scholze