30 Player FIVB Roster Flooded With Prep Dig State Connections
USA Volleyball just released their 30 player roster that consists of the top players in the country to compete in the FIVB Volleyball Nations League. In fact, one of the playing dates will be at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, the home of the Huskers, June 4-6 with matches against Korea, Germany, and Brazil. Take a look at some of the players on the roster with connections to some of our Prep Dig states!
Justine Wong-Orantes – Libero (Cypress, CA – Nebraska)
Wong-Orantes owned the backcourt as a Husker with 1st Team All American honors in 2015 and 2016. In 2015 she was a member of the national championship squad for the Huskers while also being named to the all tournament team.
Tori Dixon – Middle Blocker (Burnsville, MN – Minnesota)
A very decorated international resume, Dixon’s career started at Burnsville High School where she led the Blazers to a 3rd place finish at the state tournament and was a star at Northern Lights being named tournament MVP and All-Tournament at AAUs for a team that won back to back titles in Orlando. After high school Dixon went on to become an All American for Minnesota.
Lauren Carlini – Setter (Aurora, IL – Wisconsin)
The darling of Wisconsin volleyball, one of the most household names for Wisconsin athletes, Carlini took Wisconsin to a new level as soon as her Freshman year under first year head coach Kelly Sheffield where they were the national runner-up to Penn State.
Jordan Thompson – Opposite (Edina, Minnesota – Cincinnati)
Add another name to the list of top volleyball players out of the state of Minnesota. Thompson is from Edina, MN, a suburb on the South side of Minneapolis. Thompson played her club ball at Club 43 and Northern Lights.
Lauren Gibbemeyer – Middle Blocker (St. Paul, Minnesota – Minnesota)
Gibbemeyer may have started the undersized (6’2) revolution of middle blockers with her speed and athleticism. She played for Cretin-Derham Hall and club at Northern Lights where she was part of a team that went 52-0 their 17s year enroute to a national title. She would later become a two time All-American at Minnesota.
Jordan Larson – Outside Hitter (Hooper, Nebraska – Nebraska) – Photo Cred: HailVarsity.com
“The Governor”, her resume is loaded with collegiate and international glory which includes a national title with Nebraska and two Olympic medals, but the Logan View High School alum played her club ball with Nebraska Juniors.
Sarah Wilhite Parsons – Outside Hitter (Eden Prairie, Minnesota – Minnesota)
Wilhite Parsons really burst onto the collegiate volleyball scene her Senior year being named Player of the Year while at Minnesota. However, before she became a Gopher she was the 2011 and 2012 Player of the Year in Minnesota at Eden Prairie High School and won a national title with Northern Lights in 17 Open.
Mikaela Foecke – Outside Hitter (West Point, Iowa – Nebraska)
Another Nebraska legend , Foecke was able to win a state title for Holy Trinity Catholic in Iowa before becoming a Husker while being named National Gatorade Player of the Year. Foecke played her club ball for Iowa Rockets and Fusion (IL).
Hannah Tapp – Middle Blocker (Stewartville, MN – Minnesota)
Paige Tapp – Middle Blocker (Stewartville, MN – Minnesota)
The Tapp Twins might be the most famous duo of volleyball players to come out of Minnesota. They went to Stewartville High School before becoming Gophers and were on the Northern Lights 17s team along with Wilhite Parsons which won a national title in 2012.
Dana Rettke – Middle Blocker (Riverside, IL – Wisconsin)
Rettke may be the youngest athlete on the roster still having two more years left to play at Wisconsin. Rettke played her club volleyball at 1st Alliance.
Simone Lee – Outside Hitter (Menomonee Falls, WI – Penn State)
Lee took the Wisconsin state tournament by storm her Senior year winning a state title in dazzling fashion before going on to Penn State to be part of a national championship team and All American. Lee’s club roots go back to Milwaukee Sting and Fusion (IL).
Kelsey Robinson – Outside Hitter (Bartlett, IL – Nebraska)
Robinson can do it all from swinging on the pin or even playing as a libero. The 2013 Big Ten Player of the Year played her club ball at Sports Performance.
Kadie Rolfzen – Outside Hitter (Papillion, Nebraska – Nebraska)
Rolfzen and her twin sister Amber, committed to Nebraska as 8th graders and was a four time All American at Nebraska. Before becoming a Husker she was able to win a club national championship while playing at Nebraska Juniors.