PITTSBURGH – Four student-athletes from the University of Pittsburgh volleyball team will travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., Friday through Sunday for the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Program at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center.
Setter Lexis Akeo, defensive specialist Emmy Klika, setter/right side Rachel Fairbanks and middle blocker Rachel Jepsen will take part in the Open Program. They are four of more than 200 college-level volleyball players who will participate this weekend.
HOW TO FOLLOW
- Follow @Pitt_VB on Instagram as the Panthers will take over the team’s Instagram Story for the duration of their travels.
- Exclusive content will also be shared on the team’s Twitter and Facebook accounts.
- Fans can watch the WNTOP online on Baller.TV.
ABOUT THE WNTOP
The Women’s National Team Open Program (WNTOP) is a part of the selection process for the U.S Women’s National Team, NCAA Elite Athlete List, 2023 Collegiate National Team and, for those born in 2003 or later, the U21 Women’s National Team that will compete in the 2023 FIVB U21 World Championship.
Led by U.S. Women’s Head Coach Karch Kiraly, the Women’s National Team staff and volleyball coaches from around the country, athletes will participate in skill-specific activities and match play throughout the Open Program.
The Open Program was made available to current and recently graduated, college-age athletes born in the years 1998-2004 inclusive. Athletes born outside of this age group had to get special permission to attend.
The 2023 U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team will train in Anaheim alongside the U.S. Women’s National Team athletes and staff. This program is used for consideration for selection to our Women’s National Team and related events. Dates for the WCNT training block will be announced soon.
HISTORY OF PITT WITH USA VOLLEYBALL
Pitt has enjoyed plenty of recent history with USA Volleyball. Sabrina Starks, a WNTOP 2022 participant, was selected to compete in the 2022 U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team last summer before playing a significant role in the Panthers Final Four run of 2022 and signing a professional contract with Valencianas de Juncos in Puerto Rico.
Fairbanks also participated in the 2022 WNTOP, earning a selection onto the U21 National Team, coached by Dan Fisher….
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