National Team | Courtney Thompson adds another volleyball medal to her collection

Updates on former Washington stars Thompson, Miyashiro, Hagglund, Sanders, Barfield, Vansant, Nelson and Perry 

Olympics | Courtney Thompson called "such a good leader" as USA qualifies for Rio Olympics

Thompson and teammates surprise a former Washington Olympian 

[UPDATED 5:00PM (Pacific), 01/11/16]

National Team | Krista Vansant transitions to volleyball’s world stage

Vansant joins fellow UW alums Thompson and Miyashiro for Give it Back Foundation fundraiser; Misty May-Treanor at AVP event in Seattle this weekend

US National Team setter Courtney Thompson, outside hitter Krista Vansant and libero Tama Miyashiro at the Give it Back Foundation workshop in Lynwood's Academy Sports Center
-Volleyblog Seattle photo by Leslie Hamann

From where she stood, Krista Vansant could see both her past and her future.

In Washington Volleyball Academy’s gorgeous new Academy Sports Center in Lynwood, the former Washington All-American looked out at bleachers full of eager young athletes. The youngest were freckled, wearing braces on their teeth and headbands across their foreheads. The oldest were anxious about the approach of college and the demands of big-time volleyball.

On either side of Vansant were nine of her US National Team teammates, including fellow UW alums, Olympians Courtney Thompson and Tama Miyashiro. Thompson and Miyashiro had gathered everyone in Seattle for three days of technical and team-building workshops, all to raise funds for their new nonprofit, the Give it Back Foundation.

Squeezed between those two worlds, Vansant admitted that the transition from college star to international rookie has been a challenge.

“Definitely uncomfortable,” she said. “I don’t know if there’s ever a point where you feel comfortable. Even when I was at Washington, I don’t think I ever actually felt comfortable. I think that’s how you learn. I don’t think you can learn in a comfortable setting.”

In American volleyball, it’s rare for players just out of college to be in serious contention for roster spots in major competitions. But both Vansant and UCLA grad Karsta Lowe have made a splash this summer. Vansant was the leading scorer and MVP of her first international tournament, the Pan Am Cup in Peru. Last month, she spent two weeks in Turkey and Russia as USA won its first six matches of the World Grand Prix, then headed to Toronto as USA’s starting outside hitter at the Pan Am Games.

“It was a little weird,” she admits, “because the Toronto group had been training while we were off at Grand Prix. They had been working on different things and had a good sense of each other, especially with the setters. But we’re all friends, we all get along. So, it’s easy to fit in.”

On one amazing Saturday, one American split squad—including Thompson, Miyashiro and Lowe—won the Grand Prix gold in Omaha by defeating a Brazilian split squad, while Vansant and her teammates in Toronto beat the other Brazilian squad—including several Olympians—for the Pan Am gold medal.

At the international level, outside hitters must excel at attacking, blocking, passing and serving. Vansant has stepped into a system that some are calling “USA fast,” a quick-tempo offense with sharp passing and flat, pinpoint sets, something Vansant experienced during her four years at Washington.

“It’s not that much faster in-system,” Vansant says. “But out of system, it’s way faster than what I’ve ever done. At UW, we called a first step set out-of-system, now we’re going second-step sets in transition out-of-system. The coaches had to tell me multiple times, ’Krista, we’re going to set you a go.’ I had to trans off faster or get going faster.

“It’s definitely what I try to do. I think (former UW coach) Jim (McLaughlin) ingrained that into my head my freshman year: you’ve gotta get off the net, you have to be an offensive option. And it’s what I’ve been doing since then. But even today, there were times in Toronto when my teammates looked at me and said, you’re not transing hard enough, you need to trans harder.

“That was a wakeup call for me. You think in your head you’re doing something really well, and then some outsider tells you that, you figure it’s time to really kick yourself into gear and go. I think it’s a part of me, but I know I can still get better. I can get even further off to get an even bigger approach. I’m going against some huge blockers, so I have to take every advantage I can.”

Later this month, the US joins 11 other teams in Japan for the World Cup, an 11-match, 15-day round-robin. The top two teams earn a ticket to next summer’s Rio Olympics. 14 players will be on that World Cup team, and Vansant may be one of them (with setter Thompson and libero Miyashiro also likely candidates.) This fall, she’ll get her first professional paycheck, playing (with USA teammates Foluke Akinradewo and Natalie Hagglund) for Thompson’s old team, Volero Zurich.

And besides working on the technical side of her game, she hopes to take other steps forward, too. On that list: learning to relax when something on the court goes wrong.

“When I make mistakes, I get within myself. I stop talking, and that’s when bad stuff happens. Self-talk has really helped me. I’m trying to play outside myself. Jim (McLaughlin) would tell me that all the time, just play outside yourself, let your instincts come.

“I’ve been playing this game for over half my life, so it is instinctual for me. I hope frustrations are not too dramatic on my face, but sometimes it just happens.”

NOTES:

• Two giant Northwest beach volleyball events conflict this weekend. The AVP professional beach volleyball tour will be in Seattle this weekend at Lake Sammamish, while the annual Seaside tournament kicks off in Seaside, Oregon. The latter event is for beach players of all skill levels, while the AVP event is a chance to see some of the world’s top professionals and Olympians make a rare appearance in the Seattle area.

Olympian Misty May-Treanor will play in her first pro tournament since the London Olympics, partnering with Brittany Hochevar. An AVP spokesperson would not call this a “comeback,” for May-Treanor, and points out that she and Hochevar will be seeded 12th.

Also on the sand will be former UW player Summer Ross, and recent Pan Am Games indoor gold medalists Kristin Hildebrand and Lauren Paolini, playing in their first-ever AVP tournament.

National Team | What we learned from USA volleyball’s giant July

Olympic countdown begins for Washington alums Thompson, Miyashiro, Vansant and Hagglund; several USA team members coming to Seattle this weekend

• USA def. China 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-18) [USA wins 2015 World Grand Prix]

USA celebrates winning 2015 World Grand Prix championships after 3-0 win against China
-FIVB

Plenty of medals were slipped around USA volleyball athlete’s necks this weekend. On Saturday, former Washington All-Americans Krista Vansant and Jenna Hagglund joined one set of US National Team teammates on the Pan Am Games gold medal podium in Toronto. On Sunday, Husky Olympians Courtney Thompson and Tama Miyashiro bathed—with a different set of teammates— in the cheers of a World Grand Prix championship in Omaha.

The 26 women on those two split squads join about 3 or 4 others who are now in the running for one of 12 spots on the roster for next summer’s 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro … once USA actually nails down one of the Olympic Games bids. The first—and most important—opportunity to claim the first two Olympic invites starts next month in Japan, at the 12 team round-robin World Cup. The two teams with the records will punch the first two tickets to Rio (joining Brazil, which gets an automatic bid as host.)

[Note: many of US National Team players will be in Seattle this weekend for a foundation fundraiser. See the end of this post.]

The 14 athletes selected for the World Cup roster won’t necessarily include the final 12 selected next summer for the Olympics. But it will be close. And the just-completed tournaments offer a few clues about the chances for Washington’s four alums.

COURTNEY THOMPSON

USA setter Courtney Thompson celebrates a point in a World Grand Prix win over China
-FIVB

At 30, Thompson is now one of the National Team’s most experienced players and is clearly one of its leaders. She was a World Grand Prix co-captain, and had a big presence throughout the four-week round-the-world tournament.

Under an offense pioneered by Hugh McCutcheon and continued by Karch Kiraly, Thompson enters each set like a baseball closer. As part of a double substitution with the starting setter and opposite, her presence keeps three hitters on the front line for nine consecutive rotations. She brings a reliable serve and a strong, confident approach to her setting.

Most of all, Thompson is a world class defender, which is one reason why she has an advantage over Molly Kreklow if Alicia Glass is able to return to the lineup. Kreklow has done a great job while Glass recovers from ankle injuries, but both Kreklow and Glass are competing for one position, while Thompson is the clear leader for the double-sub. After watching her performance, long-time television broadcaster Paul Sunderland was compelled to say, “Courtney Thompson will be in Rio. I guarantee it.”

TAMA MIYASHIRO

Like Thompson, Miyashiro is a veteran of the 2012 London Olympics. Also like Thompson, she is currently a strong favorite for one of five non-starting roles on the Rio roster.

During the current quad, Kayla Banwarth clearly took the reins as USA’s libero. But after recovering from injury, Miyashiro made the most of her World Grand Prix opportunities. During her limited time on the court, she looked rejuvenated—strong, steady, full of energy. Miyashiro’s eyework has always been her strength, allowing her to be in position for balls that others miss.

In the months ahead, Miyashiro will face two challenges. One may come from former USC libero Natalie Hagglund, who did a good job with the Toronto squad at the Pan Am Games. The other may come from Kiraly’s decision whether to take three outside hitters and two liberos (as McCutcheon did in London), or four outside hitters and just one libero. The latter is a risky strategy, trading more offensive options for the security of a defensive backup in case of injury.

KRISTA VANSANT

The breakout star of the summer has been rookie opposite Karsta Lowe, MVP of the World Grand Prix. Next in line, however, is Vansant, another rookie who has impressed at three different tournaments, including MVP of June’s Pan Am Cup in Lima (not to be confused with July’s Pan Am Games in Toronto.)

Barring injury, Jordan Larson-Burbach and Kim Hill will be two of the outside hitters on the Rio roster. Vansant is now squarely in the conversation for the third spot, though it won’t be easy. When everything is clicking, she has all the tools, including the crucial passing and serving skills needed in the international game. Vansant’s challenge may be mental; overcoming the temptation to let one bad play affect the next several points.

Megan Easy was in London, and has recently returned after becoming a new mom. Easy’s Achilles heel has always been her passing, which cost her playing time throughout the Grand Prix. Given a chance to start Sunday against a China team that rarely served her way, she had a great game, getting 11 kills and no errors on 17 swings. Vansant has an opportunity—including the outside chance that Kiraly will decide to take four outside hitters to the Olympics.

JENNA HAGGLUND

Hagglund has been getting a good, long look all summer, and continues to impress. The competition for starting setter is a real traffic jam, with Carli Lloyd also in the picture with Glass and Kreklow. In Toronto, Hagglund had the same double-sub role that Thompson had in Omaha. And just like Thompson, she excelled, often leading her team on long runs during her time in the lineup.

Hagglund might have a serious shot if Thompson should somehow become unavailable. Barring that, she has surprised a lot of folks with her focus and determination. During the five years since she turned pro, literally hundreds of setters have come out of college. That she is on the US National Team and among the top five in the depth chart is an impressive feat.

USA ATHLETES IN SEATTLE

Courtney Thompson, Tama Miyashiro and Krista Vansant will be among several US National Team players in Seattle this Friday and Saturday. Their appearance is the premiere event for the Give it Back Foundation, an organization co-founded by Thompson, Miyashiro and other teammates. A Saturday event sponsored by KJ Volleyball Club is already sold out, but there are still tickets available for a Friday event sponsored by the Washington Volleyball Academy. See http://academyvb.com/product/teamusa/ for registration and information.

National Team | Two more wins for USA in World Grand Prix and Pan Am Games

Miyashiro and Thompson excel in Omaha; Vansant has another big night in Toronto

• USA def. Italy 3-1 (25-17, 25-14, 15-25, 25-18) [World Grand Prix Final Round]
• USA def. Dominican Republic 3-1 (25-17, 22-25, 25-18, 25-22) [Pan Am Games semifinals]

USA libero Tama Miyashiro digs one of 15 balls in a 3-1 World Grand Prix victory over Italy
-FIVB

Former Washington All-Americans continued to excel as US National Team split squads once again picked up victories in the round-robin final round of the World Grand Prix and in the semifinals of the Pan Am Games.

In Omaha, Tama Miyashiro had 15 digs and was in an excellent serve receive groove as USA’s defense outlasted a scrappy Italian team 3-1 (25-17, 25-14, 15-25, 25-18). Christa Dietzen led the US with 13 kills. Courtney Thompson made long runs in each set of the setter/opposite double-sub, at one point connecting with Karsta Lowe for 4 straight kills.

Team USA, including Courtney Thompson (3) and Tama Miyashiro (5) celebrate a point against Italy.
-FIVB

Over five days of competition, each of the six World Grand Prix finalists play each other once. On Friday night, USA squares off against Russia, the only other undefeated (2-0) team in final round robin. Earlier Thursday, Russia handed Brazil its first loss of the 2015 World Grand Prix, a 3-0 pasting led by Nataliya Goncharova’s 16 kills and 8 blocks. Also Thursday, China beat Japan 3-0.

In Toronto, USA defeated Dominican Republic 3-1 (25-17, 22-25, 25-18, 25-22) in the Pan Am Games semifinals. The Americans were led by Nicole Fawcett (14 kills,) Krista Vansant (13 kills) and Rachael Adams (6 blocks.) On Friday, USA goes for the gold medal against Brazil, a 3-2 winner over Puerto Rico.

National Team | Former Washington volleyball stars in US National Team spotlight this week

Thompson, Miyashiro, Vansant and Hagglund competing in World Grand Prix and Pan Am Games

USA libero Natalie Hagglund (10) encourages teammates in a 3-2 Pan Am Games loss to Brazil in Toronto

Four former Washington All-Americans—setter Courtney Thompson, libero Tama Miyashiro, outside hitter Krista Vansant and setter Jenna Hagglund—are wearing USA uniforms this week as two international competitions approach medal rounds.

Olympians Thompson and Miyashiro are with the USA squad in Omaha, one of six teams in the final round of the month-long World Grand Prix. They’ll play five matches in the next five days; all will be available for viewing via NBC’s universalsports.com website, with the final two matches possibly available on over-the-air broadcast (we’ll let you know.)

2015 World Grand Prix Finals | Omaha  

Wed, July 22	6:05PM (Pacific)	USA vs. Japan
Thu, July 23	6:05PM (Pacific)	USA vs. Italy
Fri, July 24	6:05PM (Pacific)	USA vs. Russia
Sat, July 25	3:00PM (Pacific)	USA vs. Brazil
Sun, July 26	1:00PM (Pacific)	USA vs. China

  

Vansant and Hagglund are members of the USA team in Toronto, advancing to Wednesday’s quarterfinals of the 2015 Pan Am Games. Last night, USA dropped a 3-2 (22-25, 25-21, 18-25, 25-22, 15-11) decision to Brazil, behind Vansant’s team-leading 18 kills. Hagglund had considerable playing time in the match, double-subbing with fellow setter Carli Lloyd, and occasionally staying in the rotation in the front row.

Like volleyball at every level, the USA/Brazil match was ultimately decided by serving and passing. Holding a 2-1 set lead in the fourth set, USA committed three service errors in a row, and five for the set. USA responded most of the rest of the way with easy serves right to Brazil’s libero, allowing the Brazilians to use all their attack options. At the same time, USA’s passing grew worse, ensuring that Brazil could consistently employ double and triple blocks.

In the Pan Am Games quarterfinals, USA will face Cuba Wednesday at 12:30PM (Pacific Time.) The match should be available on ESPN3.

See also: USA Women’s Volleyball Road to Rio

Part One: setters and opposites

Part Two: outside hitters and liberos

Part Three: middles

NOTES:

• If you’ve been watching the Pan Am Games coverage on ESPN3, the broadcast team might have caught your attention. If gaffes make you smile, then there’s plenty to grin about with Charles Parkinson and Dorothy Franco-Reed at the microphone. Parkinson coaches men’s volleyball at Camosun College in Victoria, British Columbia. He’s been broadcasting beach and indoor volleyball for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation since 1990, and no one pronounces “libero” quite like he does (rhymes with “fibber-oh”). Franco-Reed, an ESPN volleyball freelancer, played volleyball and basketball at Alabama, where she also coached volleyball from 1989-95 (and played team handball at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.) She and Parkinson have the good grace to apologize when they repeatedly misidentify players and are confused about rotations and substitutions (particularly the setter/opposite double substitution.) Frankly, the modern international women’s volleyball game seems to baffle them both, and when you’re not laughing, you might be a bit sad. Volleyball—now the most popular team sport for high school girls in the USA (and essentially tied with basketball at the collegiate level)—hasn’t yet earned enough respect at ESPN and CBC to draw announcers with better broadcast knowledge and skills.

National Team | USA defeats Thailand, remains undefeated

Lowe and Miyashiro excel in World Grand Prix; Vansant leads way in Pan Am Games

• USA def. Thailand 3-1 (25-21, 25-18, 23-25, 25-16) [World Grand Prix]
• USA def. Peru 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-14) [Pan Am Games]

USA libero Tama Miyashiro had 12 digs in a 3-1 victory against Thailand
-FIVB

Karsta Lowe slammed 21 kills and Tama Miyashiro tallied 12 digs as USA defeated Thailand 3-1 (25-21, 25-18, 23-25, 25-16) in Hong Kong. Saturday morning (Pacific Time), USA and China—teams with identical 8-0 records—will wrap up the 2015 World Grand Prix preliminary rounds. Both teams, plus 8-0 Brazil, have already qualified to be among the six finalists next week in Omaha, Nebraska.

USA trailed 21-17 late in the first set, but an out-of-bounds save by substitute setter Courtney Thompson and a flying dig by Miyashiro kept Thailand from running away. Outside hitter Kim Hill—as she did in the previous night’s final match against Japan—stepped to the service line and turned the set around, serving the final 7 points of the set, including 2 aces.

The second set was all Lowe, as she fired bombs from the right side, particularly down the line. Even when USA was out of system, Lowe was able to connect without getting much of an approach. Late in the set, Miyashiro had another pair of acrobatic digs, including a perfect pancake.

“We scouted Thailand a bunch and so we had a pretty good idea where the hitters like to hit,” Miyashiro said. “So if I can get set up before they are actually setting the hitters, I put myself in a really good position to dig a lot of balls. It is fun to play defense against an offense like that. It really tests your patience and eye work.”

The third set featured long rallies, most of the longest won by Thailand. The Thais were rarely fooled by outside hitter Kelsey Robinson’s tips, and Thailand’s middles consistently tooled the USA block. At set point, Robinson served long.

USA rolled through the final set, as serving improved and the Americans kept the rallies shorter. Tori Dixon and Lauren Gibbemeyer alternated at middle the entire match. Both are trying to earn the third Olympic roster spot behind current leaders Foluke Akinradewo and Christa Dietzen, but neither turned in a spectacular performance against the shorter Thai team.

Setter Courtney Thompson and the USA bench react to one of several disputed calls in USA's 3-1 win over Thailand
-FIVB

In Toronto, Krista Vansant had seven kills and two aces to pace USA’s Pan Am Games team to an opening-round sweep of overmatched Peru. Jenna Hagglund saw brief action in sets 1 and 3. USA faces Puerto Rico Saturday evening in Toronto.

National Team | USA now 7-0 in volleyball World Grand Prix with close win over Japan

Olympic vets Dietzen and Akinradewo make impact on return

• USA def. Japan 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 26-24)

USA libero Tama Miyashiro (center) leads a cheer during a 3-0 World Grand Prix win over Japan in Hong Kong
-FIVB

USA, welcoming four veteran players for the World Grand Prix third round in Hong Kong, rallied to sweep highly-ranked Japan, 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 26-24). USA—now 7-0 in pool play and ranked #1 in the world—will face Thailand Friday morning (3:30AM Pacific Time). Japan, ranked fourth in world, is now 3-4 in pool play, but is still in contention to be among the six teams to qualify for the Finals next week in Omaha.

USA Middle blocker Christa (Harmotto) Dietzen, playing her first major tournament match of the summer, recorded 8 kills and 3 blocks. Her fellow middle Foluke Akinradewo—also playing her first match of the current World Grand Prix—had 8 kills and one block. Two other third round additions were also in the starting lineup: opposite Kelly Murphy contributed 10 kills and a block, while outside hitter Jordan Larson-Burbach had 3 kills and 2 blocks.

USA middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo (16) exchanges high-fives with setter Molly Kreklow
-FIVB

USA’s biggest numbers came from outside hitter Kim Hill. She had 9 kills and a jaw-dropping 6 service aces against one of the best defensive teams in the world. 4 of those aces came during a crucial third set comeback. Libero Kayla Banwarth had another good match, contributing 9 digs.

Molly Kreklow and Courtney Thompson once again shared setting duties, with Thompson entering each set as part of a double-substitution with Karsta Lowe.

USA, China and Brazil are all 7-0 in pool play, and all have qualified for next week’s Finals. Contenders for the final three spots include Italy, Russia, Japan, Thailand and Germany

See also: USA Women’s Volleyball Road to Rio

National Team | USA Women’s Volleyball Road to Rio [Part 2]

Which players are in the running for the 12 USA women’s volleyball roster spots for the 2016 Olympic Games? Today: outsides and liberos

Which 12 American women will be selected next summer for the Rio Olympic Games?
-FIVB

With decision time for the 2016 Rio Olympic roster roughly a year away, we’re running through the probable Rio roster candidates, and suggesting what each has to do to make the final cut.

Be sure to see our first entry, Road to Rio (Part 1), for a discussion of the decision process and a rundown of setters and opposites. Today, we’ll talk about outside hitters and liberos. The next post will focus on middles.

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OUTSIDE HITTERS

2012 London Olympics

• Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Stanford University)
• Megan (Hodge) Easy (Durham, NE, Penn State University
• Jordan Larson-Burbach (Hooper, NE, University of Nebraska)

2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic candidates

• Larson-Burbach
• Easy
• Kim Hill (Portland, OR, Pepperdine University)
• Krista Vansant (Redlands, CA, University of Washington)
• Kelsey Robinson (Bartlett, IL, University of Nebraska)
• Kristin Hildebrand (Orem, UT, Stanford University)
• Cassidy Lichtman (Poway, CA, Stanford University)

We group outside hitters and liberos together for two reasons. First, there are usually five roster spots available to be divided among these two positions—either 3 outsides and 2 liberos, or 4 outsides and 1 libero. Second, outsides and liberos are a team’s primary passers, and close matches against elite opponents can turn on that critically important skill.

Jordan Larson-Burbach’s is the obvious candidate for the top OH spot in Rio. In a recent interview with the Omaha World-Herald, she said she considered quitting the game after London, frustrated, in part, by her playing time in the gold medal match. Since then, she’s been one of the best professional outside hitters in the world, leading teams based in Russia (2013-14) and Turkey (2014-15) to a host of professional tournament championships. On the court, Larson-Burbach is clinical and aggressive. Off the court, she speaks her mind. Like any great outside, she will often be judged by how well she does when poor passing limits her setter’s options. Can she hit high hands? Can she tool the block? Can she drop killer tips? In Rio, the spotlight will likely shine her way.

When USA is in system, Megan (Hodge) Easy is deadly. With great hops and a whip arm, she can lead her team on long runs. But Easy has always had a weakness: passing. At times, the weakness is glaring enough to pull her team into an extended funk. Back from having her first child, she’s been getting plenty of chances from coach Karch Kiraly to learn from mistakes and improve. Her poor passing in the first two rounds of the 2015 World Grand Prix show she still has a ways to go.

USA outside hitter Kim Hill attacks against the Italian defense in the 2015 World Grand Prix
-FIVB

Kim Hill has made a strong push to unseat Easy in the starting lineup. Tall enough to not be intimidated by the block, she continues to make strides as a passer, hitter and blocker. Her serve makes it tough to keep her out of the lineup: a textbook hard, flat, deep float that is usually good for one or more long runs a match. Just today, she recorded 6 aces in a World Grand Prix win over Japan, including 4 in one service rotation. Kiraly likes to run a fast offense, which is sometimes a problem for Hill when passing breaks down and she is the obvious option. Her confidence, however, is growing, and may be ready to peak in Rio.

Krista Vansant is only a few weeks out of college, but she’s already making a splash. At the Pan Am Cup, a secondary tournament in Peru, she was named MVP. In World Grand Prix matches against Russia and Belgium, she and fellow rookie Karsta Lowe (an opposite) provided the firepower. In college, the former AVCA National Player of the Year was as well-respected for her serving and passing as she was for her hitting. She has a shot at Rio, but may need to tone down her enthusiasm when things go well in exchange for learning not to withdraw when things do not.

Kelsey Robinson, who transferred to Nebraska after three years at Tennessee, is unafraid to emote on the court. Her enthusiasm can be either inspiring or grating, but it works best when she’s on her game. She shares many of Vansant’s qualities—good serve, good pass—and has played solidly during the World Grand Prix. If Easy can’t overcome her passing problems, Robinson and Vansant may be battling for the third OH spot in Rio.

Kristin Hildebrand made a deep run in the leadup to London, but couldn’t quite crack the lineup. During her long career, she’s earned teammates’ respect as a leader and a hard worker. She has amazing hops, which make her a formidable attacker and blocker. In a crowded field, she may have to hope Kiraly goes with just one libero in Rio.

Cassidy Lichtman would be the perfect choice if Olympic rosters ever expand from 12 to 14. Lichtman has all the tools—she can hit, set, pass, serve. Problem is, there is always someone else who beats her at any one of those skills. With a roster of 14, she’d be the perfect injury replacement almost anywhere on the court. If she wants to coach someday, she’ll be a good one. Like Hildebrand, she might sneak in if Kiraly takes four outsides.

Other outsides with little more than an outside chance to make the Rio roster include Michelle Bartsch, Sonja Newcombe, Regan Hood and Kelly Reeves.

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LIBEROS

2012 London Olympics

• Nicole Davis (Stockton, University of Southern California)
• Tama Miyashiro (Kaneohe, HI, University of Washington)

2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic candidates

• Davis
• Miyashiro
• Kayla Banwarth (Dubuque, IA, University of Nebraska)

USA libero Tama Miyashiro celebrates a point.
-FIVB

Over the past 12 months, Kayla Banwarth has come into her own. Calm, steady and focused, she has earned the starting libero spot in every major competition, and is likely the leading contender for Rio. She has great eyework, allowing her to get into good positions to avoid the need for flashy digs. Banwarth can also show fire: during a sloppy World Grand Prix stretch against Serbia, she fairly seethed during a timeout, something her teammates had to have noticed. Back on the court, she made several big digs to help USA win that match in five.

Tama Miyashiro spent last summer recovering from injury, but worked her way back up to the World Grand Prix roster this summer. In London, she was the backup libero, which means she spent most of her time getting ready for rare opportunities on the court. Not everyone can accept that kind of role, which might give her a leg up for Rio. Coach Kiraly will have to decide whether to risk taking just one libero to Brazil, but would need a Plan B if there’s an injury. Miyashiro is technically sound and well-loved by teammates—intangibles might make the difference.

Nicole Davis has twice won Olympic silver medals, and would hate to miss a chance to win a gold. For now, Banwarth has passed her in the depth chart, and—like any former starter—might struggle with the prospect of being a substitute in Rio.

One other libero is in the mix: Natalie Hagglund. She’s not yet been on any major-tournament rosters, but could be a contender, especially if injuries are a factor. If not this Olympics, she’d be an early contender for 2020.

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see also: Road to Rio(Part 1) (setters and opposites)

next post: middle blockers

National Team | Washington Alums named to US National Team Rosters

Courtney Thompson and Tama Miyashiro named to final two rounds of World Grand Prix; Krista Vansant and Jenna Hagglund on Pan Am Games squad

• July 16: USA vs. Japan, 3:30 a.m. PT
• July 17: USA vs. Thailand, 3:30 a.m. PT
• July 18: USA vs. China, 4:30 a.m. PT

Team captain Courtney Thompson (3) will remain on the USA roster for the final two rounds of the 2015 World Grand Prix
-FIVB

Two former Washington All-Americans—Olympians Courtney Thompson and Tama Miyashiro—will remain on the US National Team roster for this weekend’s World Grand Prix third round in Hong Kong, and for the Finals the following week in Omaha, Nebraska.

Thompson, the team captain, played in all six matches of the first two rounds, helping lead USA to a 6-0 record. Miyashiro, one of two liberos on the roster, played during the July 11 win over Turkey.

USA Head Coach Karch Kiraly made four changes to the roster for the final two rounds of the 2015 World Grand Prix
-FIVB

Head coach Karch Kiraly can choose 14 players from a roster of 25 for each round. Four changes were announced for the final two rounds:

• OH Jordan Larson-Burbach (Nebraska) replaces Krista Vansant (Washington)
• MB Christa Dietzen (Penn State) replaces Cursty Jackson (Arizona)
• MB Foluke Akinradewo (Stanford) replaces Lauren Paolini (Texas)
• OPP Kelly Murphy (Florida) replaces Nicole Fawcett (Penn State)

Vansant, Jackson, Paolini and Fawcett are on the roster for the Pan Am Games, now underway in Toronto. Former Washington All-American setter Jenna Hagglund is also on the US Team for Pan Am. Both Vansant and Hagglund played major roles for the US in the earlier similarly-named Pan Am Cup; Vansant was MVP of that tournament, hosted by Peru and won by USA.

2015 U.S. Women’s National Team Roster for FIVB World Grand Prix Weeks 3 & 4

2	Kayla Banwarth	L	5-10	Dubuque, Iowa	University of Nebraska
3	Courtney Thompson	S	5-8	Kent, Wash.	University of Washington
5	Tama Miyashiro	L	5-7	Kaneohe, Hawaii	University of Washington
8	Lauren Gibbemeyer	MB	6-2	St. Paul, Minn.	University of Minnesota
10	Jordan Larson-Burbach	OH	6-2	Hooper, Neb.	University of Nebraska
11	Megan Easy	OH	6-3	Durham, N.C.	Penn State University
12	Kelly Murphy	OPP	6-2	Wilmington, Ill.	University of Florida
13	Christa Dietzen	MB	6-2	Hopewell Twn, Penn.	Penn State University
15	Kim Hill	OH	6-4	Portland, Ore.	Pepperdine University
16	Foluke Akinradewo	MB	6-3	Plantation, Fla.	Stanford University
18	Molly Kreklow	S	6-0	Delano, Minn.	University of Missouri
21	Tori Dixon	MB	6-3	Burnsville, Minn.	University of Minnesota
23	Kelsey Robinson	OH	6-2	Bartlett, Ill.	University of Nebraska
25	Karsta Lowe	OPP	6-4	Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.	UCLA

NOTES

• Although all three World Grand Prix matches in Hong Kong are in the middle of the night, Pacific Time, they should be available for online replay at universalsports.com/Olympics.

• Among those on the 25-player preliminary World Grand Prix roster who were not named to any of the 14-player competition rosters are setter Alicia Glass, libero Nicole Davis, outside hitter Cassidy Lichtman, outside hitter Kristin Hildebrand, opposite hitter Alix Klineman, outside hitter Michelle Bartsch and middle blocker Rachael Adams. Adams, Bartsch, Hildebrand and Lichtman are on the Pan Am roster. Carli Lloyd and Jenna Hagglund are the two setters; Natalie Hagglund is the libero.