Wolfpack Trio to Attend USA Volleyball Tryouts This Weekend

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Three members of the NC State volleyball team will participate in the U.S. Women's National Team Tryouts this weekend held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Sophomores Kaitlyn Kearney and Perry Ramsey, along with freshman Blayke Hranicka will represent the Wolfpack at the tryout among more than 200 student-athletes from around the country. They will be competing for spots on the U.S. Women's National Team and the U.S. Collegiate National Team.

"We're really excited to send three of our student-athletes to the USA Volleyball Tryouts to represent NC State and our program," said head coach Linda Hampton-Keith. "They'll be in an environment where they get to play and compete at a really high level, so it's exciting."

In addition, NC State volleyball assistant coach Nicki Holmes will serve as a program manager for the U.S. Collegiate National Team.

U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly and his staff will direct the entire tryout process. The tryout will involve four sessions with three waves per session. Friday's first session convenes from 4-10 p.m. EST, while Saturday's sessions are at 10 a.m. (focus on serve/receive and individual work) and 4 p.m. (middle-centered and out-of-system focus). The tryout concludes on Sunday at 10 a.m. with tournament style play, along with 16-18 athletes selected by the staff to participate in a "USA" training session.

USA Volleyball will use #USAVTryout as the hashtag for photos, notes, quotes and stories posted to its social media platforms Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram under the handle @USAvolleyball. Be sure to watch the live stream and follow on Snapchat as USA Volleyball will be following select athletes throughout the entire process for behind the scenes access.

Selected athletes for the U.S. Women's National Team may begin their training in Anaheim, Calif., as early as the spring of 2016, or when an athlete's scholastic or professional club season has concluded.

The U.S. Collegiate National Team program has three competition options:

Tour of China (12 athletes): June 18-July 1
Tour of Europe (12 athletes): July 5-16
USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships (projected 36 athletes): June 21-30 in Indianapolis

Selections for the U.S. Collegiate National Teams will be made by the end of March.

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All three were starters on the 2015 NC State women's volleyball squad, collectively accounting for nearly 60 percent of the team's offense.

Kearney started all 32 matches and led the team with 149 blocks, the fourth best in the conference and 32^nd nationally. The 6'2" middle blocker also tallied 302 kills, the second most on the squad and notched double-digit kills in 14 matches.

"I'm very excited," Kearney said about attending the tryouts. "I've never been and it seems like a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I'm very excited and nervous."

Ramsey, a 6'0" outside hitter, was one of two players to play in all 119 of the team's sets. She swatted 300 kills, the third best for the Wolfpack and tallied four double-double performances with 10 or more kills and digs in the same match.

"I'm just really excited to experience it all and be able to take it all in," said Ramsey. "I'm looking forward to training with former Olympians and those who are training to be in the Olympics. I think it will be a life-changing experience and I'm really excited for it."

An All-ACC Freshman Team selection last season, Hranicka set the program record for most points by a freshman with 409.5 points scored to lead NC State in that category. She was fourth in kills with 299 and second in blocks with 139. The 6'0" middle blocker ended the year with a .356 attacking percentage, fifth best in the ACC.

"I'm super excited to attend the tryout and it's close to home as well, which is very exciting," said Hranicka. "I'll have the opportunity to play with some of the best players in the country, so I'm very excited."

Wolfpack Trio to Attend USA Volleyball Tryouts This Weekend

Players Mentioned

Kaitlyn Kearney

Perry Ramsey

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