STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford's Jordan Burgess was one of 12 players selected to the USA Volleyball roster for the 2015 World University Games that will take place July 2-12 in Gwangju, South Korea.
Burgess, a human biology major from Fort Myers, Florida, joins Arizona libero Laura Larson as the two representattives from the Pac-12 Conference.
The World University Games roster is part of USA Volleyball’s High Performance program’s Collegiate National Team. The squad has four players who finished their senior seasons in 2014, along with three seniors and five juniors.
Mary Wise, head coach for the University of Florida, has been named the head coach for the team. She will be assisted by Kyle Robinson, the new University of Oklahoma assistant coach, and Dan Thomassen, Sage Hill High School volleyball coach and co-founder of Prime Volleyball Club in California.
“The World University Games is a unique event that we look forward to competing in come July,” Wise said. “We are fortunate to assemble such a talented group of players to represent USA Volleyball.”
The squad includes five AVCA All-America first-team selections from 2014, including Burgess, Nia Grant, Micha Hancock, Briana Holman and Alex Holston. Further, Khat Bell and Nicole Walch were AVCA All-America second-team picks in 2014, while Paige Tapp was named to the third team.
“I’m excited about the 2015 World University Games for several reasons,” U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly said. “One, our USA Women’s program will have a strong representative at a deep and challenging tournament. Two, the Games are organized very much like the Olympics, with multiple sports and countries from around the world, and that’s a special environment for people to experience. And three, because players - both those with remaining college eligibility, and those who have none - have an opportunity to represent USA, and I revere chances to wear the Red, White and Blue.”
The World University Games squad will come together June 28 in Los Angeles before traveling to South Korea for the competition. The roster was selected through the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts held Feb. 20-22 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., along with an invitation-only training block held in January in Anaheim, Calif.
U.S. Women’s World University Games Roster
Khat Bell (OPP, University of Texas, Grad, Mesquite, Texas)
Jordan Burgess (OH, Stanford University, Sr., Fort Myers, Fla.)
Lexi Dannemiller (S, University of Michigan, Grad, West Chester, Ohio)
Nia Grant (MB, Penn State University, Grad, Warren, Ohio)
Micha Hancock (S, Penn State University, Grad, Edmond, Okla.)
Briana Holman (MB, University of Nebraska, Jr., DeSoto, Texas)
Alex Holston (OPP, University of Florida, Jr., Olney, Md.)
Carly Kan (OH, University of Missouri, Jr., Honolulu, Hawaii)
Laura Larson (L, University of Arizona, Jr., Lakeville, Minn.)
Andie Malloy (OH, Baylor University, Sr., Allen, Texas)
Paige Tapp (MB, University of Minnesota, Jr., Stewartville, Minn.)
Nicole Walch (OH, Florida State University, Sr., Stuart, Fla.)
Courtesy of USA Volleyball