by BY BILL KAUFFMAN
NEW ORLEANS, La. (June 29, 2015) – The U.S. Collegiate National Team Program-New Orleans concluded its training period as the CNT Blue Team defeated CNT Red 25-21, 25-20, 19-25, 25-23 in the first-place match at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.
The CNT program had 35 athletes who began training on June 21 in New Orleans and were split into three teams – CNT Blue, Red and White for a round-robin tournament held concurrently with the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships to connect current collegiate stars with young athletes dreaming to be in the same position in the future.
According to USA Volleyball Senior Director Tom Pingel who oversee the High Performance program, the quality of the athletes rising to the top is only getting better.
Photo Galleries: June 27 | June 28 | June 29
“I would say, based on what I have heard from the coaching staff that has had experience with this group and what I have seen this week, this was probably one of the strongest if not the strongest College National Team groups that we have had at this event,” Pingel said. “I think it will only bode well for the future for USA Volleyball and cause some really hard, but good decisions to be made by our National Team staff down the road.”
CNT Blue was led by Tiana Dockery (Navajo) with 12 points that included a 71 positive reception percent on 21 chances. Jayhawk teammate Kelsie Payne (Kansas) added 10 in the victory. Alicia Ostrander (Oglala-Lakota) provided CNT Blue with nine points in two set starts, while Kia Bright (UCF) chalked up nine points as well. Morgan Bergren (Kentucky) started three sets at setter, while Nicole Edelman (Colorado) was the setter in the third set.
CNT Red was led by Erin Fairs (Louisville) and Chelsey Harris (Rice) with 20 and 19 points, respectively. Jenna Rosenthal (Marquette) contributed eight points while Katie Brand (Kansas State) was the setter in all four sets.
CNT Blue went undefeated in its three matches in the tournament. Earlier this week CNT Blue won both its round robin matches with a 3-2 win over CNT White on June 27 and 3-1 win over CNT Red on June 26.
CNT Red reached the title match by defeating CNT White 25-12, 25-19, 27-25 in the play-in semifinal match earlier on Monday. Fairs took top scoring honors with 17 points, while Katie Horton (Florida State) chipped in 16 points. Stephenee Yancy (Illinois-Chicago) tacked on nine points in the victory. Brand set CNT Red to a 40 kill percent for the match.
In the loss, CNT White was led by Melanie Crow (Mississippi) with 11 points. Sarah Livingston (Southern California) added seven in points in the defeat.
1st Place Match: CNT Blue def. CNT Red 25-21, 25-20, 19-25, 25-23
CNT Blue Scoring: Tiana Dockery (Kansas) 12, Kelsie Payne (Kansas) 10, Kia Bright (UCF) 9, Alicia Ostrander (Nebraska) 9, Krystalyn Goode (Michigan) 5, Morgan Bergren (Kentucky) 4, Cody Dodd (Tennessee Tech) 4, Alyssa Garvelink (Michigan State) 4, Nakeyta Clair (Mississippi) 3, Cassandra Strickland (Washington) 2.
CNT Red Scoring: Erin Fairs (Louisville) 20, Chelsey Harris (Rice) 19, Jenna Rosenthal (Marquette) 8, Alexis Austin (Colorado) 6, Katie Horton (Florida State) 6, Katie Brand (Kansas State) 5, Stephenee Yancy (Illinois-Chicago) 5, Kaitlyn Oliver (Boise State) 3, Amanda Neill (Purdue) 2.
Semifinals: CNT Red def. CNT White 25-12, 25-19, 27-25
CNT Red Scoring: Erin Fairs (Louisville) 17, Katie Horton (Florida State) 16, Stephenee Yancy (Illinois-Chicago) 9, Chelsey Harris (Rice) 8, Jenna Rosenthal (Marquette) 7, Katie Brand (Kansas State) 4, Kaitlyn Oliver (Boise State) 1, Amanda Neill (Purdue) 1.
CNT White Scoring: Melanie Crow (Mississippi) 11, Sarah Livingston (Southern California) 7, Tyler Richardson (Ohio State) 5, Gabrielle Simpson (Colorado) 4, Taylor Treacy (North Carolina) 4, Ainise Havili (Kansas) 3, Lauren Schad (Cheyenne River Sioux) 3, Kayla Haneline (Northern Iowa) 2, Hayley McCorkle (North Carolina) 2, Cierra Simpson (Colorado) 1.
U.S. Collegiate National Team Program-New Orleans at USAV Girls’ Junior National Championships
Name (Position, School, Eligibility Remaining)
Bianca Arellano (S, Arizona State, 1)
Alexis Austin (OH, Colorado, 1)
Morgan Bergren (S, Kentucky, 1)
Katie Brand (S, Kansas State, 2)
Kia Bright (OH, UCF, 2)
Nakeyta Clair (MB, Mississippi, 1)
Melanie Crow (OH, Mississippi, 2)
Tiana Dockery (OH, Kansas, 1)
Cody Dodd (OPP, Tennessee Tech, 1)
Nicole Edelman (S, Colorado, 1)
Erin Fairs (OH, Louisville, 1)
Canace Finley (OPP, San Diego, 1)
Alyssa Garvelink (MB, Michigan State, 3)
Heather Gearhart (L/DS, North Carolina, 1)
Krystalyn Goode (MB, Michigan, 1)
Kayla Haneline (MB, Northern Iowa, 2)
Chelsey Harris (OPP, Rice, 2)
Ainise Havili (S, Kansas, 3)
Morgan Heise (L/DS, SMU, 2)
Amelia Held (L/DS, Northern Iowa, 2)
Katie Horton (OH, Florida State, 2)
Sarah Livingston (OH, Southern California, 3)
Hayley McCorkle (OPP, North Carolina, 2)
Amanda Neill (L/DS, Purdue, 1)
Kaitlyn Oliver (MB, Boise State, 3)
Alicia Ostrander (OH, Nebraska, 1)
Kelsie Payne (OPP, Kansas, 3)
Tyler Richardson (MB, Ohio State, 1)
Jenna Rosenthal (MB, Marquette, 4)
Lauren Schad (MB, San Diego, 2)
Cierra Simpson (L/DS, Colorado, 2)
Gabrielle Simpson (S, Colorado, 3)
Cassandra Strickland (L/DS, Washington, 1)
Taylor Treacy (OPP, North Carolina, 2)
Stephenee Yancy (MB, Illinois-Chicago, 1)
