April 1, 2008

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Ohio sophomore Ellen Herman (Toledo, Ohio) is one of 22 student-athletes around the country to be selected to the U.S. Women's Senior A2 National Team program, as announced by USAV Managing Director of High Performance Indoor Programs Tom Pingel.

"It's a real honor to make the team," said Herman. "I went to Colorado with the mindset of wanting to be on the team, and when I found out I was chosen I was stoked. It's really breath taking to be one of the 22 girls that was selected out of everyone that tried out."

Herman and the 21 other selections, all with collegiate eligibility remaining, will be split into two 11-member squads during training sessions prior to competing in the USA Volleyball Adult Open Championships May 24-31 in Atlanta.

"I am going to go in with open eyes and open ears and try and learn different styles of volleyball that I haven't been exposed to before," explained Herman. "Coaches that have been with top 25 programs for a long time are going to be there, along with some of the top players from around the country."

USA Volleyball held two tryouts at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to assist in the selection of the A2 Team. The first tryout session was an invitation-only event Jan. 7-11, while the second tryout was an open event held Feb. 22-24. Both tryouts doubled as evaluation periods for the A2 program as well as the U.S. Women's National Team which will compete at the Olympic Games.

Herman competed in the Feb. 22-24 tryouts in Colorado Springs and along with battling for a spot on the team, she was also able to take in the experience. "We were at the Olympic Training Center eating cafeteria food with Olympians...it was an awesome experience," said Herman.

The 2008 U.S. Women's National A2 Team includes four setters, seven outside hitters, six middles, three opposites and two liberos. The players come from 14 different collegiate programs.

"There are girls from all around the country on the team," said Herman. "It was interesting to get to see the different terminology that they use in practices and the different work ethic everyone has."

The coaching staff for the U.S. Women's National A2 teams is made up of University of Texas Head Coach Jerritt Elliott and Michigan State University Head Coach Cathy George, who will serve as the head coaches, and University of Virginia Assistant Coach Jill Pape-Kramer and Georgia Tech Assistant Coach Ben Bodipo-Memba, who will each serve as assistant coaches.

2008 U.S. Women's National A2 Team Selections
Sarah Ammerman (Outside Hitter, Junior in 2008, Texas A&M University, Parker, Colo.)
Sydney Anderson (Setter, Sophomore in 2008, University of Nebraska, Salt Lake City, Utah)
Kylie Atherstone (Opposite, Senior in 2008, Cal Poly, Chico, Calif.)
Lori Baird (Middle Blocker, Senior in 2008, University of Utah, Murray, Utah)
Kelsey Bowers (Middle Blocker, Senior in 2008, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.)
Brittnee Cooper (Middle Blocker, Junior in 2008, Louisiana State University, Houston, Texas)
Zoe Garrett (Middle Blocker, Sophomore in 2008, University of Southern California, Laguna Beach, Calif.)
Ellen Herman (Outside Hitter, Junior in 2008, Ohio University, Toledo, Ohio)
Alli Hillgren (Libero, Junior in 2008, University of Southern California, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.)
Jamie Houston (Outside Hitter, Senior in 2008, University of Hawai'i, Huntsville, Ala.)
Kristy Jaeckel (Outside Hitter, Redshirt Freshman in 2008, University of Florida, Littleton, Colo.)
Talisa Kellogg (Outside Hitter, Senior in 2008, Georgia Tech, Westerville, Ohio)
Carli Lloyd (Setter, Sophomore in 2008, University of California-Berkeley, Bonsall, Calif.)
Elena Martinez (Libero, Senior in 2008, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, La.)
Jessica Nyrop (Setter, Senior in 2008, University of San Diego, Harrison, Idaho)
Dominique Olowolafe (Middle Blocker, Sophomore in 2008, Cal Poly, Lansing, Mich.)
Callie Rivers (Outside Hitter, Sophomore in 2008, University of Florida, Winter Park, Fla.)
Kimmee Roleder (Outside Hitter, Sophomore in 2008, University of Southern California, Pasadena, Calif.)
Am'ra Solomon (Opposite, Junior in 2008, University of California-Berkeley, Los Angeles, Calif.)
Maria Taylor (Opposite, Senior in 2008, University of Georgia, Alpharetta, Ga.)
Nicole Vargas (Setter, Senior in 2008, Long Beach State University, Seal Beach, Calif.)
Lauren Williams (Middle Blocker, Redshirt Freshman in 2008, University of Southern California, Houston, Texas)

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Wes Liles is the volleyball contact in the Ohio media relations office. He can be reached via email at liles@ohio.edu.