May 10, 2016

Payne, Wait Vying for Pan American Cup roster spot with USA Volleyball

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – University of Kansas volleyball standouts Kelsie Payne and Cassie Wait are among 19 athletes invited by the U.S. Women’s National Team to train and compete for a Pan American Cup roster spot, an event scheduled to take place June 30 to July 11 in Dominican Republic. Tryouts begin June 20 in Anaheim, California.

Payne, a first-team All-American right-side hitter for the Jayhawks, will tryout for a middle position in Anaheim with Inky Ajanaku (Stanford University), Rhamat Alhassan (University of Florida), Taylor Sandbothe (Ohio State University), and Lianna Sybeldon (University of Washington).

Wait will compete for a libero roster spot with Caitlin Nolan (Iowa State University), and Justine Wong-Orantes (University of Nebraska).

The 19 athletes are either still in college or recently completed eligibility for their respective college. Dan Fisher (University of Pittsburgh) will coach the Pan American Cup squad. The final Pan American Cup competition roster will be named in late June.

Payne and Wait were starters on KU’s 2015 squad that guided KU to its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Final Four and a 30-3 record.

The duo was originally selected to tryout for a Pan American Cup roster spot through the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts held in February at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

U.S. Women’s Training Roster for Pan American Cup
Name (Position, Height, Hometown, College)
Inky Ajanaku (M, 6-3, Tulsa, Okla., Stanford University)
Rhamat Alhassan (M, 6-4, Glenarden, Md., University of Florida)
Lauren Carlini (S, 6-2, West Aurora, Ill., University of Wisconsin)
Megan Courtney (OH, 6-1, Dayton, Ohio, Penn State)
Lexi Dannemiller (S, 5-11, West Chester, Ohio, University of Michigan)
Haley Eckerman (OPP, 6-3, Waterloo, Iowa, University of Texas)
Micha Hancock (S, 5-11, Edmond, Okla., Penn State)
Alex Holston (OPP, 6-1, Olney, Md., University of Florida)
Brittany Howard (OH, 6-3, Los Altos, Calif., Stanford University)
Madi Kingdon (OH, 6-1, Phoenix, Ariz., University of Arizona)
Caitlin Nolan (L, 5-8, Southlake, Texas, Iowa State University)
Kelsie Payne (M, 6-3, Austin, Texas, University of Kansas)
Taylor Sandbothe (M, 6-2, Lee’s Summit, Mo., Ohio State University)
Taylor Simpson (OH, 6-3, Colorado Springs, Colo., University of Colorado)
Lianna Sybeldon (M, 6-1, Folsom, Calif., University of Washington)
Nikki Taylor (OPP, 6-3, Honolulu, Hawaii, University of Hawaii)
Cassie Wait (L, 5-8, Gardner, Kan., University of Kansas)
Nicole Walch (OH, 6-2, Stuart, Fla., Florida State University)
Justine Wong-Orantes (L, 5-6, Cypress, Calif., University of Nebraska)

Head Coach: Dan Fisher (University of Pittsburgh)
Assistant Coach: Heather Olmstead (BYU)
Assistant Coach/Team Leader: Jon Newman-Gonchar (University of Arkansas)
Scout: Tristan Johnson (Arkansas State University)
Athletic Trainer: Peter Higbie

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