March 25, 2010
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Sophomore libero Frenchy Silva has been named an alternate for the 2010 United States Women’s National A2 Volleyball team, as announced recently by USA Volleyball. Silva totaled a team-high 323 digs in 2009 and paced the Irish with a 3.40 digs/set clip. She had 3.93 digs/set in BIG EAST Conference play. Silva finished three matches with over 20 digs, maxing out with 23 at Xavier on Sept. 4.
“Having the experience of going to the tryouts and performing well against some tremendous talent are great things for Frenchy,” Irish head coach Debbie Brown said. “We’re really proud of the way she competed throughout the tryouts. She passed well, played good defense and it’s certainly an honor for the program and Frenchy to be considered an alternate for the A2 program.”
USA Volleyball selected 24 players and four coaches to lead its U.S. Women’s National A2 Program for 2010.
The players, all of whom have remaining collegiate eligibility for 2010, were selected as part of the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts held Feb. 19-21 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. A record total of 175 athletes competed in the tryout.
The team includes four setters, 10 outside/opposite hitters, six middles and four liberos. The 24 players come from 18 different collegiate programs.
The liberos/defensive specialists chosen for the A2 program were Ellie Blankenship (Northern Iowa), Laura Gonzalez (Albany), Ashley Mass (Iowa State) and Sydney Yogi (Texas).
The 2010 U.S. Women’s National A2 program is scheduled to train May 24-28 in Tempe, Ariz., before being split into two 12-player rosters to compete in the Open Division of the 2010 USA Open National Championships held in Phoenix. The Open Division flight takes place May 29-June 1 at the Phoenix Convention Center.
–ND–