Five Huskies Head To U.S. National Team Open Program

SEATTLE – A group of five Huskies are ready to compete this weekend at the U.S. National Team Open Program, which features more than 150 women’s volleyball players working to earn potential women’s national team spots on the senior squad or one of several age-group teams.
 

Traveling to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. are middle blockers Julia Hunt and Katy Wessels, outside hitter Kierstyn Barton, libero Zoria Heard, and setter Alexis Haury. It will be the first National Team Open Program for all except Wessels, who also made the trip last year. The program runs Friday-Sunday, Feb. 21-23.

Barton was named All-Big Ten Second Team this past season while Hunt was named the AVCA Pacific North Region Freshman of the Year and on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.

 

New U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Erik Sullivan will lead his first Open Program, joined by assistant coach Mike Wall.

 

The WNT Open Program serves as a key development opportunity for potential selection to both the U.S. Women’s National Team and National Team Development Program (NTDP) age-group national teams.

 

There are three women’s age-group national teams this year that WNTOP participants may be considered for based on their birth year and eligibility: Women’s U21 (athletes born in 2005 and younger) and Girls U19 (athletes born in 2007 and younger), both competing at their respective Pan American Cups and FIVB World Championships. A newly formed Women’s U23 National Team (born in 2003 and younger) will train and compete internationally, replacing the domestic-only Women’s Collegiate National Team.