Allick, Rodriguez Named to U21 National Training Team

Twenty of the country’s top junior volleyball players – including Nebraska’s Lexi Rodriguez and Bekka Allick – have been selected for the 2022 Women’s Under-21 (U21) National Training Team.

The team will train May 26-June 4 at Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport. Twelve players will be chosen to compete at the 2022 Women’s U21 Pan American Cup on June 5-13 in Mexico.

Six players on the team return from the U18 National Team that took bronze at the 2021 FIVB World Championship in Mexico: outside hitter/middle blocker Bekka Allick, middle blocker Eloise Brandewie, outside hitter/libero Chloe Chicoine, outside hitter/opposite Devin Kahahawai, setter Alexis Stucky and outside hitter Mckenna Wucherer.

Libero Lexi Rodriguez returns from the U20 National Team that placed fifth at the 2021 FIVB World Championship in Netherlands. The FIVB has changed the age-group parameters for girls and women’s national teams to match those of the boys and men’s national teams.

Other outside hitters on the roster are Merritt Beason, Caroline Bien, Claire Little, Elia Rubin and Nora Sis. Other middle blockers on the roster are Raven Colvin, Bre Kelley and Marianna Singletary (also plays opposite). Other setters on the roster are Rachel Fairbanks and Ella Swindle. Logan Lednicky and Katy Ryan are opposites on the roster and Gala Trubint plays libero.

Dan Fisher, women’s volleyball head coach at the University of Pittsburgh, will serve as the U21 head coach. His assistants will be Jon Newman-Gonchar, head coach at the University of New Mexico, and Heather Olmstead, head coach at BYU.

“I am honored to be asked to lead the U.S. Women’s U21 National Team this year,” Fisher said. “I’m grateful for the trust that Karch Kiraly and USA Volleyball are putting in me and my staff. I’m excited to work with some of the best players in the United States in this age group and hope to represent this country with pride.”

Virginia Pham, technical coordinator at the University of Southern California, will serve as performance analyst. Kyle Thompson, director of volleyball operations at the University of Maryland, will be the team leader. Wyatt Blue of Game Time Sports Medicine will be the athletic trainer.

While training in Shreveport, the team will spend time with the U.S. Women’s National Team as it prepares for and competes in the FIVB Volleyball Nations League.

“What an opportunity it will be for all of us to train around some of the best volleyball players in the world,” Fisher said.

U.S. Women’s U21 Training Team

Name (position, height, hometown, HS grad year, club, USAV Region, committed college)

Bekka Allick (OH/MB, 6-3, Waverly, Neb., 2022, VCNebraska, Great Plains, Nebraska)

Merritt Beason (OH, 6-3, Gardendale, Ala., 2020, Alabama Performance Volleyball Club, Florida)

Caroline Bien (OH, 6-0, Overland Park, Kan., 2021, Mavs KC, Heart of America, Kansas)

Eloise Brandewie (MB, 6-3, Columbus, Ohio, 2023, Mintonette, Ohio Valley, Ohio State University)

Chloe Chicoine (OH/L, 5-10, Lafayette, Ind., 2023, Circle City, Hoosier, Purdue)

Raven Colvin (MB, 6-1, Indianapolis, Ind., 2021, The Academy Indianapolis, Hoosier, Purdue)

Rachel Fairbanks (S, 6-0, Santa Ana, Calif., 2021, Tstreet, Southern California, Pitt)

Devin Kahahawai (OH/OPP, 6-4, Kailua, Hawaii, 2022, Texas)

Bre Kelley (MB, 6-4, Rockwall, Texas, 2020, Excel Volleyball Club, North Texas, Florida)

Logan Lednicky (OPP, 6-3, Sugar Land, Texas, 2022, Houston Skyline Juniors, Lone Star, Texas A&M)

Claire Little (OH, 6-3, Temecula, Calif., 2023, Coast, Southern California, BYU)

Lexi Rodriguez (L, 5-5, Sterling, Ill., 2020, Club Fusion Volleyball, Great Lakes, Nebraska)

Elia Rubin (OH, 6-1, Brentwood, Calif., 2022, Sunshine, Southern California, Stanford)

Katy Ryan (OPP, 6-5, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, 2021, T3 VBC, Evergreen, Washington State)

Marianna Singletary (MB/OPP, 6-4, Charleston, S.C., 2022, A5, Southern, Texas)

Norah Sis (OH, 6-2, Papillion, Neb., 2021, Premier Nebraska, Great Plains, Creighton)

Alexis Stucky (S, 6-2, Laramie, Wyo., 2022, NORCO, Rocky Mountain, Florida)

Ella Swindle (S, 6-2, Columbia, Mo., 2023, KC Power, Heart of America, Texas)

Gala Trubint (L, 5-8, San Diego, Calif., 2022, Coast, Southern California, Southern California)

Mckenna Wucherer (OH, 6-1, Brookfield, Wis., 2022, Milwaukee Sting, Badger, Minnesota)

Head Coach:?Dan Fisher (Head Coach, University of Pittsburgh)

Assistant Coach: Jon Newman-Gonchar (Head Coach, University of New Mexico)

Assistant Coach: Heather Olmstead (Head Coach, BYU)

Performance Analyst: Virginia Pham (Technical Coordinator, USC)

Athletic Trainer: Wyatt Blue (Game Time Sports Medicine)

Team Leader: Kyle Thompson (Director of Volleyball Operations, Maryland)