STANFORD, Calif. – Five current or former Stanford women’s volleyball players have been named to the U.S. Pan American Cup roster, USA Volleyball announced Wednesday. Representing the Cardinal are Inky Ajanaku and Hayley Hodson, both members of the current roster, as well as alums Kristin Hildebrand (2003-07), Alix Klineman (2007-10) and Cassidy Lichtman (2007-10).
The U.S. Women’s National Team will compete in the XIV Women’s Pan American Cup June 13-21 in Lima, Peru. The Pan Am Cup is a 12-team tournament with squads competing for spots into the 2016 FIVB World Grand Prix. Team USA, winners of two of the last three editions of the intercontinental tournament, will play in Pool A that includes Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Puerto Rico.
Team USA opens the Pan Am Cup on June 13 against Puerto Rico at 7 p.m., followed by Colombia on June 14 at 3 p.m. The Americans challenge Costa Rica on June 15 at 3 p.m. and continue with Mexico on June 16 at 5 p.m. The U.S. concludes pool play on June 17 versus Argentina at 7 p.m.
Hildebrand, who was part of Team USA’s FIVB World Championship gold-medal team in 2014, will be joined by fellow outside hitters Hodson, Lichtman, Michelle Bartschyville and Krista Vansant. Ajanaku is one of three middle blockers on the squad along with Cursty Jackson and Lauren Paolini.
Jenna Hagglund and Carli Lloyd have been selected as setters for Team USA, while Klineman and Natalie Hagglund will be the opposite and libero, respectively.
“The blend of experience and youth on this strong Pan Am Cup squad augurs well for the program,” said Karch Kiraly, head coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team program. “We’ve got a number of veterans from our championship campaign of 2013, who already know what it takes to compete at a high level internationally. And we have a number of young guns with a bright future … I can’t wait to see how this team battles.”
David Hunt will serve as head coach for the team at the Pan American Cup. Nicole Lawlor and Jonathan Newman-Gonchar will be assistant coaches on the staff.
U.S. Women’s National Team Roster – Pan American Cup
2 – Inky Ajanaku (MB, 6-2, Tulsa, Okla., Stanford)
4 – Lauren Paolini (MB, 6-4, Ann Arbor, Mich., Texas)
7 – Cassidy Lichtman (OH, 6-1, Poway, Calif., Stanford)
9 – Kristin Hildebrand (OH, 6-1, Orem, Utah, Stanford)
10 – Natalie Hagglund (L, 5-9, Encinitas, Calif., USC)
13 – Cursty Jackson (MB, 6-2, Los Angeles, Arizona)
16 – Michelle Bartsch (OH, 6-3, Maryville, Ill., Illinois)
17 – Alix Klineman (OPP, 6-5, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Stanford)
19 – Hayley Hodson (OH, 6-2, Newport Beach, Calif., Stanford)
20 – Jenna Hagglund (S, 5-10, West Chester, Ohio, Washington)
23 – Carli Lloyd (S, 5-11, Bonsall, Calif., California)
24 – Krista Vansant (OH, 6-2, Redlands, Calif., Washington)