DALLAS – LSU volleyball head coach Fran Flory secured a gold medal as part of the USA National A2 Blue Team at the USA Volleyball Open National Championships held earlier this week at the Dallas Convention Center.
Flory’s USA A2 Blue squad won seven of its eight matches at the tournament and defeated the USA A2 Red team in four sets during the first title match [19-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-23] to gain revenge on its lone setback. In a do-or-die set, USA A2 Blue erased a 24-22 deficit behind four unanswered points to snatch a 26-24 triumph.
“It’s a great honor anytime you get to represent the USA,” Flory said. “This was a wonderful experience in every capacity. All of the players and staff are not only great players, but they’re great people. Our team goal was to win the tournament, and our team showed great poise and resiliency in coming back to succeed. Every player made significant contributions throughout the tournament, and our team played very well together. To not only have this opportunity but to win gold was very rewarding.”
It marked the fourth consecutive season that LSU has won a medal at the event. Brittnee Cooper and Elena Martinez won gold in 2008, while Cooper picked up a silver medal in 2009. Assistant coach Steve Loeswick came away with a bronze medal in 2010.
The USA Volleyball Women’s National A2 Program started training at the University of Texas at Dallas on May 23 before beginning the USA Volleyball Open National Championships on May 28.
USA A2 Blue
Jersey – Name (School, Position, Height, Hometown)
2 – Francesca Silva (Notre Dame, L, 5-3, Laguna Nigel, Calif.)
4 – Taylor Brauneis (Louisville, S, 5-10, Crystal Lake, Ill.)
7 – Gwen Rucker (Louisville, MB, 6-2, Lexington, Ky.)
9 – Ashley Rhoades (New Mexico, MB, 5-11, Rio Rancho, N.M.)
17- Jennifer Bonilla (Illinois, L, 5-9, Reseda, Calif.)
26 – Morgan Broekhuis (Nebraska, OPP, 6-5, Colorado Springs, Colo.)
27 – Brittney Brimmage (Missouri, MB, 6-3, East St. Louis, Ill.)
29 – Brianne Barker (Oklahoma, S, 5-9, Amarillo, Texas)
30 – Ashley Bannister (Texas, OH, 6-1, Sugar Land, Texas)
33 – Michelle Bartsch (Illinois, OPP, 6-4, Maryville, Ill.)
34 – Ariel Turner (Purdue, OH, 6-1, Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
36 – Tarah Murrey (California, OH, 6-3, El Cerrito, Calif.)
Head Coach: Fran Flory (LSU)
Assistant Coaches: Brian Hosfeld and Diego Castaneda (North Texas)