May 30, 2008

ATLANTA - The United States Women's National A2 Team hasn't captured the USA Adult Open Volleyball Championship since 2004. Ohio sophomore standout Ellen Herman (Toledo, Ohio) helped change that this past week in Atlanta, leading the U.S. Women's National A2 Red Team to the Open Division Title en route to being named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

The junior-to-be totaled 11 points in the gold-medal match, all on kills coming from 34 swings. She recorded 34 of the Red Team's 71 service reception attempts with just two errors.

"I feel so honored to be named MVP," said Herman. "To be honest it was a surprise though. I thought everyone on the team played a major role and contributed and I was a part of that. All my teammates were phenomenal and we had great team chemistry and I think that's why we won the championship."

Herman's MVP selection did not come as a shock to Ohio Head Coach Ryan Theis. "It's no surprise that Ellen was named MVP," explained Theis. "She is an extraordinary person and one of the best team players. There were a lot of great players at the tournament, but everyone I talked to at the event said she was definitely deserving of the honor."

The USA Volleyball High Performance pipeline A2 Teams have been competing in the Open Division since 2003. Its only other championship in the event was in 2004. The USA A2 Program is the only team with more than one Women's Open Division title in the last eight years.

"I had a great time competing and playing against some of the best volleyball players in the nation," said Herman. "We all got along so well and strived for the same goal. It was a one time thing, but it was one of the best times of my life."

The U.S. Women's National Training Team finished second to The Exterminators in its first Open competition in 2003, then rebounded to win the gold in 2004 in a rematch of the previous year's championship. In 2006, the USA Blue A2 finished second to The Exterminators at New Orleans. Last year, USA Red finished with the silver medal after falling to Westwood VBC (UCLA) in the finals.

USA Volleyball has showcased its USA Adult Open Volleyball Championships for 79 years since the organization's founding in 1928. Except for 1943 and 1944 during the height of World War II, the Open has been a mainstay celebrating adult volleyball nationally.

The event is one of the largest national championships in any sport in the United States, and the Open has featured the sport of volleyball from coast-to-coast.

More details on the Open Division championships will be provided later this week. Additional information on the tournament can be found at http://www.usavolleyball.org/Adults/.

Herman was selected as one of 20 student-athletes selected to the A2 National Team back in late March. The 20 members were split into two 10-member squads for the Open Championships.

USA A2 Red Team
1 - Jessica Nyrop (S, Senior in 2008, University of San Diego, Harrison, Idaho)
2 - Lauren Williams (MB, Redshirt Freshman in 2008, University of Southern California, Houston, Texas)
3 - Kelsey Bowers (MB, Senior in 2008, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.)
4 - Kimmee Roleder (OH, Sophomore in 2008, University of Southern California, Pasadena, Calif.)
5 - Am'ra Solomon (OPP, Junior in 2008, University of California-Berkeley, Los Angeles, Calif.)
6 - Callie Rivers (OH, Sophomore in 2008, University of Florida, Winter Park, Fla.)
7 - Elena Martinez (L, Senior in 2008, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, La.)
9 - Carli Lloyd (S, Sophomore in 2008, University of California-Berkeley, Bonsall, Calif.)
11 - Ellen Herman (OH, Junior in 2008, Ohio University, Toledo, Ohio)
15 - Brittnee Cooper (MB, Junior in 2008, Louisiana State University, Houston, Texas)
Head Coach: Cathy George (Michigan State University)
Assistant Coach: Ben Bedipo-Memba (Georgia Tech)

USA A2 Blue Team
1 - Dominique Olowolafe (MB, Sophomore in 2008, Cal Poly, Lansing, Mich.)
2 - Lori Baird (MB, Senior in 2008, University of Utah, Murray, Utah)
3 - Jamie Houston (OH, Senior in 2008, University of Hawai'i, Huntsville, Ala.)
4 - Talisa Kellogg (OH, Senior in 2008, Georgia Tech, Westerville, Ohio)
5 - Sarah Ammerman (OH, Junior in 2008, Texas A&M University, Parker, Colo.)
6 - Alli Hillgren (L, Junior in 2008, University of Southern California, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.)
7 - Sydney Anderson (S, Sophomore in 2008, University of Nebraska, Salt Lake City, Utah)
9 - Maria Taylor (OPP, Senior in 2008, University of Georgia, Alpharetta, Ga.)
10 - Nicole Vargas (S, Senior in 2008, Long Beach State University, Seal Beach, Calif.)
11 - Kristy Jaeckel (OH/OPP, Redshirt Freshman in 2008, University of Florida, Littleton, Colo.)
15 - Zoe Garrett (MB, Sophomore in 2008, University of Southern California, Laguna Beach, Calif.)
Head Coach: Jerritt Elliott (University of Texas)
Assistant Coach: Brook Coulter (Denver University)