TeamUSA.org | @USAVolleyball
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Former Illini Volleyball All-American Michelle Bartsch has been designated as an alternate for the 12-player United States Olympic Women's Volleyball Team roster that will compete at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games from August 6-20.
Bartsch and the other seven alternates, including middles Alexis Crimes (Rancho Cucamonga, California) and Lauren Paolini (Ann Arbor, Michigan), outside hitters Megan Easy (Boston, Massachusetts) and Krista Vansant (Redlands, California), opposite Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Ohio), libero Natalie Hagglund (Encinitas, California) and setter Molly Kreklow (Delano, Minnesota) will train with the national team up until the Rio Olympics begin on Aug. 6.
"I am honored to be part of the group even with just the possibility of competing for our country," said Bartsch. "It is always been a dream of mine to be an Olympian and being so close after a short time with the national team I am excited for my opportunity moving forward to the next Olympic Games."
Bartsch most recently earned a silver medal with U.S. Women's National Team at the 2016 FIVB World Grand Prix, falling to Brazil in the gold-medal match on Sunday. Bartsch saw action in one competition in the final round, coming off the bench against China to make her first appearance in a FIVB World Grand Prix match. She made her presence known by starting both the second and third sets and finished with 11 points, including nine kills on 20 swings and just two errors, one block and one ace.
The U.S. Women's National Team, under head coach Karch Kiraly, includes four Olympic veterans and eight players who will be making their first appearances on the grandest sporting stage. Middles Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Florida) and Christa Dietzen (Hopewell Township, Pennsylvania), outside hitter Jordan Larson (Hooper, Nebraska) and setter Courtney Thompson (Kent, Washington) return from Team USA's 2012 Olympic Games silver-medal finish in London.
Newcomers to the Olympian family are outside hitters Kim Hill (Portland, Oregon) and Kelsey Robinson (Bartlett, Illinois), middle Rachael Adams (Cincinnati, Ohio), opposites Karsta Lowe (Rancho Santa Fe, California) and Kelly Murphy (Wilmington, Illinois), setters Alisha Glass (Leland, Michigan) and Carli Lloyd (Bonsall, California), and libero Kayla Banwarth (Dubuque, Iowa).
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