USA fields strong team for NORCECA Women’s Tournament

OMAHA, Nebraska, September 13, 2013 – The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team has set its roster for the nine-team Visit Omaha NORCECA Continental Championship that will be held September 16-21 at Ralston Arena.

The U.S. has selected four outside hitters, three middle blockers, two setters, two opposites and one libero to fill out its 12-player roster.

Outside hitter Jordan Larson-Burbach, a 2012 Olympic Games silver medalist, and libero Kayla Banwarth  are local favorites having played at nearby University of Nebraska. Joining Larson-Burbach at outside hitter are Kristin Hildebrand, Kim Hill and Cassidy Lichtman.

Lauren Gibbemeyer, Christa Harmotto, a 2012 Olympic Games silver medalist, and Lauren Paolini are the middle blockers selected. Alisha Glass and Jenna Hagglund are the setters chosen to compete in the event. Nicole Fawcett and Kelly Murphy have been chosen as opposites on the team.

All but Larson-Burbach competed in the recently completed FIVB World Grand Prix in which the young roster finished sixth competing against the top teams in the world fielding several Olympians, including tournament champion Brazil having seven Olympians. Team USA won the Pan American Cup, which included the top teams from NORCECA and South America, with 10 of the 12 athletes on the upcoming NORCECA roster.

“Pan Am Cup and World Grand Prix were amazing learning experiences for our young group - most of our athletes had played very few significant minutes in those events until this year, and they got numerous chances to earn confidence in themselves, and from their teammates,” U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly said.

The tournament, in its 23rd edition dating back to 1969, features three round-robin pools of three teams. Matches are set for 4 p.m. CT, 6 p.m. CT and 8 p.m. CT each day.

Quarterfinal round matches are on Sept. 19, followed by semifinals on Sept. 20. The gold- and bronze-medal matches conclude the tournament on Sept. 21. The winner of the tournament earns a spot in the season-ending FIVB Grand Champions Cup this November in Japan.

All matches during the NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship will be streamed live and accessed through USA Volleyball’s web site and NORCECA web site.

USA has won the NORCECA Championship six times (1981, 1983, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2011) including the most recent event held in 2011 at Caguas, Puerto Rico. Further, USA Team has earned the silver medal 11 times - all with Cuba winning the gold as part of its record 13 NORCECA titles. Team USA has won the bronze medal three times and missed the podium just twice in the 22 previous editions. Mexico won the first two NORCECA Championships in 1969 and 1971, while Dominican Republic is the only other country to win the event with its title in 2009.