Jayhawk Trio to Tryout for National Team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Junior outside hitter Sara McClinton, freshman middle blocker Tayler Soucie and sophomore ouside hitter Tiana Dockery will represent Kansas volleyball at the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team Open Tryout at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 21-23.
 
Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and U.S. Olympic Hall of Famer, Karch Kiraly, will lead the tryout process that will be used primarily to identify prospective athletes for the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team. Athletes not invited to participate with the National Team may be invited to attend a second tryout as part of the U.S. Collegiate National Teams program, formerly the U.S. Women’s Senior A2 Teams, which Kansas head coach Ray Bechard coached for in the summer of 2012.
 
“This is a great opportunity for these three to work with very high-level athletes and see several styles of volleyball,” Bechard said. “Anytime you’re competing against, and alongside, that caliber of players, you will undoubtedly be better for it. It’s also great for a player’s confidence knowing that they can compete at that level and in that environment.”
 
McClinton, a two-time All-Big 12 First Team honoree that led Kansas with 3.13 kills per set in 2013, will attend her second tryout in as many years, while Soucie and Dockery are headed to the OTC for the first time. Soucie led the Jayhawks with a .339 attack percentage and 1.19 blocks per set to finish the 2013 season as the AVCA Midwest Region Freshman of the Year. Dockery put up nearly 200 kills and 40 blocks last season for the Jayhawks.
 
The Jayhawks are three of 248 athletes with remaining collegiate eligibility that will be eligible for the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, as well as the U.S. Collegiate National Teams program, which consists of two different options if selected. USA Volleyball will have one U.S. Collegiate National Team of 12 athletes and two coaches travel to China June 13-27, 2014, for a series of training sessions and matches in conjunction with a separate team representing the PAC 12 Conference.
 
On Friday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. CT, USA Volleyball will begin live streaming the tryout for fans across the world to watch. Click here to watch.
 
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