COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Illinois volleyball freshman standout Jordyn Poulter is set to be one of 231 athletes from 88 college and universities to participate in the U.S. Women's National Team Open Tryouts, held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Feb. 19-21.
Participates will be vying for spots on the U.S. Women's National Team, the U.S. Collegiate National Teams program and the U.S. Junior National Team. Three-time Olympic gold medalist and U.S. Olympic Hall of Famer Karch Kiraly and the U.S. Women's National Team staff will lead the tryout process, with selected athletes notified by early March. USA Volleyball will then announce the selections by the end of the month once all roster spots are confirmed.
Fans can follow along with the USA Volleyball live stream HERE and also follow on social media at @USAVolleyball and by using the hashtag #USAVTryout. USA Volleyball will also be making their Snapchat debut this weekend and fans can look for the account @USAVolleyball starting on Friday.
Illini fans interested in following Poulter's experience at the USA Volleyball tryouts can head to the volleyball team's Instagram account, where the Aurora, Colo., native will be taking over @IlliniVBall throughout the weekend.
Poulter has been a part of the national team's "High Performance Program" for the past three years, serving as the setter for the 2015 U.S. Women's Junior National Team that won gold at the European Global Challenge in Croatia. She also led the U.S. U20 Women's Junior National Team to the gold medal at the 2014 NORCECA Championships in Guatemala and earned the Best Setter Award for her performance. Her other international experience includes leading the USA Girls Youth National Team to the silver medal at the 2013 FIVB U18 World Championships - earning the Best Setter Award at the tournament - as well as playing with the USA U23 Women's National Team at the 2013 FIVB World Championships in Mexico.
In her first season with the Illini, Poulter earned All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors after starting in 29 matches at the setter position and registering a team-high 1,088 assists for 10.46 assists per set. She led the Illini attack to a .231 hitting percentage and posted 223 digs, 81 blocks, including 10 solo blocks, 56 kills and 12 service aces. Poulter totaled eight double-doubles and one 20-dig performance, including posting season-highs of 59 assists and 21 digs in a five-set battle with then-No. 4 Minnesota. She was a two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week award winner, a Big Ten Setter of the Week honoree and was named to the B1G/Pac-12 Challenge All-Tournament Team.
For more Fighting Illini volleyball news, stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com and follow the team on Twitter @IlliniVBall or like Fighting Illini Volleyball on Facebook.
