Courtney Thompson and Tama Miyashiro on roster for World Grand Prix Volleyball Finals

Deadline for 2012 USA Olympic Team selection is Monday

Five more chances.

That’s what it comes down to for athletes competing for one of 12 spots on the USA women’s 2012 Olympic volleyball roster. And two of those women are former University of Washington All-Americans: setter Courtney Thompson and libero/defensive specialist Tama Miyashiro.

Courtney Thompson (#22) and teammates celebrate a World Grand Prix point against Argentina

Tonight, both Thompson and Miyashiro are on the roster as Team USA enters the final round of the annual four-week World Grand Prix competition. The Americans are undefeated (9-0) and ranked first in the world. In earlier rounds, Team USA handed Brazil (8-1) its only loss of the 2012 WGP; it also has wins over fellow finalists Thailand (7-2) and Cuba (6-3). The Americans have not yet played either Turkey (7-2) or host China (8-1). China’s only loss was to Brazil. [see schedule, below]

I would guess that USA head coach Hugh McCutcheon has already settled on eight of his twelve Olympic athletes:

setter: Lindsey Berg (Minnesota)
libero: Nicole Davis (USC)
outside hitter: Logan Tom (Stanford)
outside hitter: Jordan Larson (Nebraska)
outside hitter: Megan Hodge (Penn State)
opposite hitter: Destinee Hooker (Texas)
middle blocker: Foluke Akinradewo (Stanford)
middle blocker: Christa Harmotto (Penn State)

Berg, Tom, Larson, Hooker and Akinradewo did not compete in the WGP third round last weekend, and will not be on the roster for the finals this week in Ningbo, China.

McCutcheon will take a second setter to the London Olympics, either Thompson or Alisha Glass (Penn State.) The two have vastly different styles: Glass is tall, rangy and cool; Thompson (like Berg) is shorter, quicker, older (by three years) and full of fire. Thompson is the better server and defender, and has been extremely effective on double switches. Another argument in Thompson’s favor: her style is similar to Berg’s, perhaps making it easier for hitters to adjust if Berg is out of the lineup.

Miyashiro’s situation is trickier. Davis has received all libero time in the WGP, with Miyashiro injecting tough serves and great defense late in sets. Many teams carry just one defender on their roster; there is an outside chance McCutcheon could add another outside hitter in London instead of bringing Miyashiro.

The question, then, is whether McCutcheon wants five hitters or six. Tayyiba Haneef-Park (Long Beach State) is a veteran and has played well in relief of Hooker at opposite (Olympic veteran Nancy Metcalf of Nebraska is also still in the running.) But two Stanford outside hitters would love to bump Miyashiro from the roster: Kristin Richards and Cynthia Barboza. Both are solid players, but would either be as much value behind Tom/Larson/Hodge as Miyashiro would be behind Davis? And what happens if Davis is injured?

The final spot will likely go to a third middle blocker, either Heather Bown (Hawai’i) or Danielle Scott-Arruda (Long Beach State.) Both are Olympic veterans and tough competitors; they will both be in China this week trying to impress.

McCutcheon and his team will be on a China-to-Anaheim flight Monday, the day when Olympic rosters must be submitted. Sources tell Volleyblog Seattle that McCutcheon may not make his announcement public until July 3 or 4, only after he’s had a chance to meet with the team and talk with all players individually.

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Team USA schedule (all dates and times Pacific) for the 2012 World Grand Prix Final Round in Ningbo, China:

June 26	10:00pm	Brazil (8-1)
June 27	10:00pm	Thailand (7-2)
June 29	12:30am	Turkey (7-2)
June 30	12:30am	Cuba (6-3)
July 1	4:30am	China (8-1)

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NOTES:

• Team USA has earned $105,000 so far by winning each of its first three World Grand Prix pools ($35,000/pool). The overall champion wins $200,000; second place is $100,000. Under FIVB rules, athletes must receive at least 40% of the total purse.
• The Americans are seeking their third consecutive WGP title, matching a feat accomplished by Brazil in 2004-05-06. Team USA won in 1996, 2001, 2010 and 2011. Destinee Hooker was the MVP of last year’s competition.