COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – LSU libero Meghan Mannari was one of 48 players invited to participate in the U.S. Women’s National A2 Program as announced by USA Volleyball.
Mannari’s involvement with USA Volleyball marks the fifth consecutive year that LSU will be represented in the prestigious A2 program. AVCA All-Americans Brittnee Cooper and Elena Martinez won gold in 2008, while Cooper added a silver medal in 2009. Former assistant coach Steve Loeswick came away with a bronze medal in 2010, whereas head coach Fran Flory secured gold in 2011.
“We are extremely excited for and very proud of Meghan to join the A2 program,” Flory said. “She has worked incredibly hard and has earned the opportunity to be a part of the USA program. We are confident that she will represent LSU to the best of her ability.”
One of eight liberos chosen, Mannari garnered All-SEC Second-Team and AVCA All-South Region Honorable Mention status. She sparked LSU’s back row defense and amassed 518 digs at a 4.67 per set average to rank second in the SEC. The 518 digs also were the third-highest total for a single season in LSU history. The Frisco, Texas, native will head into senior campaign 187 digs away from becoming the 12th player in program history to reach the 1,000 career digs plateau.
Training begins June 26 at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, while the matches will be held June 30 to July 4 during the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships (GJNC) at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
During the pre-tournament training session, the 48 athletes will be divided into four teams of 12 players that will play one match per day during the GJNC. All matches will be A2 competing against each other in a round-robin format followed by a semifinal and final round.
LSU has strung together seven consecutive SEC Western Division titles highlighted by the overall league championship in 2009. It’s the second longest streak in SEC history, only behind Florida’s 14-year run on top of the SEC’s Eastern Division from 1995-2008.
The Tigers have garnered a 159-55 record, secured six NCAA Tournament appearances and notched 24 All-SEC selections since 2005.
Below is a complete list of the 48 student-athletes selected for the 2012 USA Volleyball A2 Program.
Player (College, Position, Height, Hometown)
Kaycee Acree (Western Michigan, L, 5-7, Muncie, Ind.)
Tiffany Baker (Tennessee, OH, 6-3, Carrollton, Texas)
Maggie Brindock (Notre Dame, S, 5-11, Rockwall, Texas)
Kirby Burnham (Southern Cal, OH, 6-3, Newport Beach, Calif.)
Samantha Cash (Pepperdine, MB, 6-3, San Diego, Calif.)
Rachel Charles (Lehigh, L, 5-7, Farmington Hills, Mich.)
Karissa Cook (Stanford, S, 5-11, Santa Cruz, Calif.)
Alexa Dannemiller (Michigan, S, 5-11, West Chester, Ohio)
Amy Dentlinger (Michigan State, OH, 6-1, Arcadia, Iowa)
Tori Dixon (Minnesota, OPP, 6-4, Burnsville, Minn.)
Kaitlyn Early (Illinois State, S, 5-9, Wildwood, Mo.)
Kelli Fiegen (South Dakota State, MB, 6-3, Parkston, S.D.)
Sareea Freeman (Florida State, MB, 6-4, Fresno, Calif.)
Katelyn Fuller (Southern Cal, OPP, 6-3, Olivenhain, Calif.)
Alexandra Gossen (Western Michigan, OH, 6-0, Evanston, Ill.)
Kristina Graven (St. Mary’s, OH, 6-0, San Jose, Calif.)
Natalie Hagglund (Southern Cal, L, 5-9, Encinitas, Calif.)
Jennifer Hamson (BYU, OPP, 6-7, Lindon, Utah)
Emily Hartong (Hawai’i, OH, 6-2, Los Alamitos, Calif.)
Haley Jacob (Oregon, L, 5-5, League City, Texas)
Kierra Jones (Purdue, MB, 6-1, Fishers, Ind.)
Jennifer Keddy (Cal Poly, MB, 6-4, Missoula, Mont.)
Madison Kingdon (Arizona, OH, 6-0, Phoenix, Ariz.)
Stephanie Klefot (Kentucky, L, 5-6, Louisville, Ky.)
Rachel Krabacher (Dayton, OH, 6-4, Cincinnati, Ohio)
Molly Kreklow (Missouri, S, 6-0, Delano, Minn.)
Megan Lambertson (North Dakota State, MB, 6-0, Litchfield, Minn.)
Karsta Lowe (UCLA, OPP, 6-4, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.)
Chloe Mann (Florida, MB, 6-1, Gainesville, Fla.)
Meghan Mannari (LSU, L, 5-9, Frisco, Texas)
Ashley Mason (Missouri State, L, 5-8, Granby, Mo.)
Alexis Mathews (Michigan State, MB, 6-3, Detroit, Mich.)
Tenisha Matlock (Iowa State, MB, 6-2, North Platte, Neb.)
Emily McGee (North Carolina, OH, 5-10, Naperville, Ill.)
Chaniel Nelson (North Carolina, OPP, 6-2, Huntersville, N.C.)
Valerie Nichol (Purdue, S, 6-0, Normal, Ill.)
Alexis Olgard (Southern Cal, MB, 6-5, Spokane, Wash.)
Mary Pollmiller (Tennessee, S, 5-10, Littleton, Colo.)
Gwen Rucker (Louisville, MB, 6-2, Lexington, Ky.)
Sara Shaw (Southern Cal, OH, 6-2, Austin, Texas)
Hayley Spelman (Stanford, OPP, 6-6, Las Vegas, Nev.)
Alyssa Squires (UC Irvine, OH, 6-1, Santa Ynez, Calif.)
Ariel Turner (Purdue, OH, 6-1, Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
Lauren Wicinski (Northern Illinois, OH, 6-2, Geneva, Ill.)
Sarah Wickstrom (Florida State, S, 5-11, Stuart, Fla.)
Jennifer Wiker (Virginia Tech, OH, 6-3, Charlotte, N.C.)
Kristin Winkler (UC Irvine, L, 5-10, Los Altos, Calif.)
Carly Wopat (Stanford, MB, 6-2, Santa Barbara, Calif.)