Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Send Four to National Team Tryouts
2/15/2016 11:06:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Four Hoosiers will travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., for the USA Women's Volleyball National Team Open Tryouts Feb. 19-21. Setters Megan Tallman and Victoria Brisack, middle blocker Jazzmine McDonald and defensive specialist Taylor Lebo will be among the 231 athletes expected to compete for a spot on one of the U.S. Women's National Team Programs and Collegiate National Team Programs, both domestic and international.
The national team open tryouts will be streamed online from 4-10 p.m. Feb. 19, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Feb. 20 and 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 21.
Tallman finished the 2015 season with 1,060 assists for her second straight season with at least 1,000 assists. Tallman currently ranks seventh in school history with 2,908 assists and will be going into her senior season next year.
"I am so honored to get this opportunity to represent IU and my program at the USA Tryouts," Tallman said. "I've been blessed with many amazing things in life and this is among the top. I want to thank the coaches and university for providing me with this experience and I hope to do my best to represent everything my program and teammates are about."
Brisack graduated early from Verona High School in Verona, Wis., and is currently training with the Hoosiers. Brisack was recently selected a PrepVolleyball.com All-American and the Wisconsin State Journal/WisconsinPrepZone.Com All-Area Girls Volleyball Player of the Year.
"I am looking forward to the high level of competition and passion in the gym," Brisack said. "I am definitely excited about the opportunity to potentially play with USA on the back of my jersey again."
McDonald a rising senior led the Hoosiers and finished 10th in the Big Ten in hitting percentage at a .323 clip with 105 kills. McDonald also added 39 blocks.
"I am extremely honored to be given the opportunity to go represent our program at the USA tryouts in Colorado," McDonald said. I'm excited to go out and play with and compete against some of the greatest volleyball players at the collegiate level."
Lebo, also a rising senior played in 31 of the Hoosiers 32 matches and led the team with 29 aces. She ended the season with 95 aces through three years. Lebo was second on the team in digs this past season with 269 and has 758 for her career.
"I'm very excited to be given the opportunity to go and compete with the best players in the country for a spot on the National Team," Lebo said. "I'm eager to represent IU along with my teammates at the tryout."
"I'm excited to have four of our players representing Indiana out at the USA Tryouts," IU head coach Sherry Dunbar-Kruzan said. "We sent Taylor last year and she has a very good understanding of how this works and was very motivated to go back again. We thought this would be a very good experience and step for Jazzmine as she is the lone middle training this spring. She has a lot on her shoulders as a mentor and a go to player for us so this will be great for her. And then to have both of our setters go was something we talked about a lot. It's fantastic to have Victoria here early after graduating high school early and Megan is having a really good spring so far. They are supporting and motivating each other to be great so competing against other nationally acclaimed setters will only raise their level to help us this fall."
Athletes selected to the Collegiate National Teams could participate in three possible programs – a China tour in late June, the European Global Challenge in July, or a tournament at the USA Girls' Junior National Championships in Indianapolis in June. All CNT programs are considered extended tryouts for the USA Women's National Team.
The national team open tryouts will be streamed online from 4-10 p.m. Feb. 19, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Feb. 20 and 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 21.
Tallman finished the 2015 season with 1,060 assists for her second straight season with at least 1,000 assists. Tallman currently ranks seventh in school history with 2,908 assists and will be going into her senior season next year.
"I am so honored to get this opportunity to represent IU and my program at the USA Tryouts," Tallman said. "I've been blessed with many amazing things in life and this is among the top. I want to thank the coaches and university for providing me with this experience and I hope to do my best to represent everything my program and teammates are about."
Brisack graduated early from Verona High School in Verona, Wis., and is currently training with the Hoosiers. Brisack was recently selected a PrepVolleyball.com All-American and the Wisconsin State Journal/WisconsinPrepZone.Com All-Area Girls Volleyball Player of the Year.
"I am looking forward to the high level of competition and passion in the gym," Brisack said. "I am definitely excited about the opportunity to potentially play with USA on the back of my jersey again."
McDonald a rising senior led the Hoosiers and finished 10th in the Big Ten in hitting percentage at a .323 clip with 105 kills. McDonald also added 39 blocks.
"I am extremely honored to be given the opportunity to go represent our program at the USA tryouts in Colorado," McDonald said. I'm excited to go out and play with and compete against some of the greatest volleyball players at the collegiate level."
Lebo, also a rising senior played in 31 of the Hoosiers 32 matches and led the team with 29 aces. She ended the season with 95 aces through three years. Lebo was second on the team in digs this past season with 269 and has 758 for her career.
"I'm very excited to be given the opportunity to go and compete with the best players in the country for a spot on the National Team," Lebo said. "I'm eager to represent IU along with my teammates at the tryout."
"I'm excited to have four of our players representing Indiana out at the USA Tryouts," IU head coach Sherry Dunbar-Kruzan said. "We sent Taylor last year and she has a very good understanding of how this works and was very motivated to go back again. We thought this would be a very good experience and step for Jazzmine as she is the lone middle training this spring. She has a lot on her shoulders as a mentor and a go to player for us so this will be great for her. And then to have both of our setters go was something we talked about a lot. It's fantastic to have Victoria here early after graduating high school early and Megan is having a really good spring so far. They are supporting and motivating each other to be great so competing against other nationally acclaimed setters will only raise their level to help us this fall."
Athletes selected to the Collegiate National Teams could participate in three possible programs – a China tour in late June, the European Global Challenge in July, or a tournament at the USA Girls' Junior National Championships in Indianapolis in June. All CNT programs are considered extended tryouts for the USA Women's National Team.
Players Mentioned
Setter
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