Add Olivia Dailey’s name to the list of Kentucky volleyball stars set to participate in United States Volleyball Training programs. Dailey was tabbed to the U.S. Collegiate National Team-Minneapolis program on Monday.
The CNT-Minneapolis squad, which is part of USA Volleyball’s High Performance pipeline and is considered a second tryout for the U.S. Women’s National Team, will train from June 22-26 at the University of Minnesota. Afterward, the athletes will be assigned to one of three 12-member teams and compete in a round-robin format at the Minneapolis Convention Center from June 27-30. The matches are being held in conjunction with the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships under the same roof.
Dailey is the fourth Wildcat to earn selection to one of the prestigious USA Volleyball programs. Seniors Kaz Brown and Ashley Dusek were chosen to represent the Red, White and Blue on the US Collegiate National Team for the Thailand Tour, May 19-30. Incoming freshman setter Madison Lilley was pegged for the 2017 U20 Women’s Pan American Cup begin held May 8-13 in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Dailey was one of the athletes were selected through the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts held March 3-5 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. The tryout featured 244 players from 81 colleges and 10 high schools. She is one of 31 players selected to partake in this year’s Minneapolis training. Five more spots remain in contention for the 36 total slots in June.
Dailey earned her first career All-America nod after being a catalyst for a team that was 20th in the nation in kills per set at 14.23. Dailey helped the squad after finishing fourth in the country in assists per set at 11.78. The Trussville, Alabama, native sits tied for sixth in the single-season 25-point rally era record book with 1,202 helpers, and recently became just the fourth players during the rally scoring era to record 60 or more helpers. She had six double-doubles, and produced 47 assists and 12 scoops in the NCAA Tournament win over Colorado State. She was named All-Southeastern Conference, SEC Setter of the Week five times this season, SEC Offensive Player of the Week once and FloVolleyball National Player of the Week during the 2016 campaign.
Other players under Craig Skinner who have participated in the US Volleyball program include Morgan Bergren, Whitney Billings, Ashley Frazier, Stephanie Klefot, Alexandra Morgan, Jackie Napper and Sarah Rumely.
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Mike Scholze
