DENVER- University of Denver junior outside hitter Becca Latham (Austin, Texas) has been selected to the U.S. Collegiate National Team-China Tour, as announced by USA Volleyball Wednesday afternoon.

"I'm so excited and grateful," said Latham. "This is such an amazing opportunity. I'm so blessed to be able to go to China and represent DU and to make my family proud."

Latham was one of two opposites selected on the 12-player roster that will train and compete in China from May 20-31.

"We are extremely proud to have Becca represent the University of Denver on the U.S. Collegiate National Team," commented head coach Tom Hogan. "Competing internationally against China, one of the top volleyball nations in the world, will only help take Becca's game to the next level.

"Representing our country is one of the greatest experiences in sport, and the entire DU family is excited for Becca to compete with U.S.A. on her back."

The Texas native took part in the tryouts at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., back in the beginning of March as one of 230 athletes from 90 colleges.

Joining her on the tour will be Denver's Director of Operations Jessica Aschenbrenner, who will serve as the technical coordinator for the team.

The official Team USA Volleyball release:
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 21, 2018) - USA Volleyball is proud to announce its 12-player U.S. Women's Collegiate National Team China Tour (CNT-China) roster comprised of current collegiate players who will train and compete in China from May 20-31.

Middles selected to the elite CNT-China squad are Rachael Kramer (University of Florida, Phoenix, Arizona), Dana Rettke (University of Wisconsin, Riverside, Illinois) and Jenna Rosenthal (Marquette University, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin). The outside hitters named to the roster are T'ara Ceasar (University of Georgia, Panama City, Florida), Thayer Hall (University of Florida, Moore, South Carolina), Taryn Kloth (Creighton University, Sioux Falls, S.D.) and Carlyle Nusbaum (Lipscomb University, Overland Park, Kansas).

The two opposites selected to the CNT-China Tour are Rebecca Latham (University of Denver, Austin, Texas) and Stephanie Samedy (University of Minnesota, Clermont, Florida). The setters are Madison Lilley (University of Kentucky, Overland Park, Kansas) and Julia Patterson (University of Arizona, Los Alamitos, California). The libero will be Molly Sauer (University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky).

Chris Tamas, head coach of the University of Illinois women's volleyball team, will serve as the CNT-China head coach.

"I appreciate the opportunity to coach with USA after both my wife (Jen (Joines) Tamas) and I wore the jersey for 14 years," Tamas said. "As part of our USA Volleyball High Performance pipeline, I believe our university system helps develop some of the top players in the world. It will also help introduce and adjust our players to international rules and competition environment for their post-collegiate careers, which may be with our U.S. Women's National Team. We look forward to compete in China at the end of May with a top level U.S. Collegiate National Team."

Joe Trinsey and Natalie Morgan will serve as assistant coaches. Trinsey was technical coordinator for the U.S. Women's National Team that won bronze at the 2016 Olympic Games, and Morgan is an assistant coach at Loyola Marymount University. Jessica Rae Aschenbrenner, the director of volleyball operations at University of Denver, will serve as the CNT-China Tour technical coordinator. Erin Leaser with Bring It Promotions will serve as head of delegation.

A quarter of the CNT-China roster was part of the U.S. Collegiate National Team program last year. Nusbaum and Rosenthal were part of the 2017 CNT-Thailand Tour roster. Further, Kloth was a member of the 2017 CNT-Minneapolis roster. Rosenthal has made her third CNT team as she was part of the 2016 CNT-China Tour roster.

The CNT-China roster boasts several athletes who have already worn the red, white and blue Team USA jersey in international competitions. Hall, Kramer and Sauer all have played at the FIVB Women's U20 World Championships, while Lilley was a U.S. Women's Junior National Team member who participated in the 2017 Women's U20 Pan Am Cup along with Hall. Samedy represented the U.S. at the 2016 NORCECA Women's U20 Continental Championship.

Athletes were selected through the U.S. Women's National Team Open Tryouts held March 2-4 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

USA Volleyball will announce in the coming weeks rosters for the CNT-Europe and CNT-Detroit teams.

Notes:

• The CNT-China roster includes two players from the same hometown - Madison Lilley and Carlyle Nusbaum are from Overland Park, Kansas, but played for two different club teams.
• Thayer Hall and Rachael Kramer play for University of Florida.
• Thayer Hall has yet to play a collegiate match as she enrolled early at University of Florida after earning the Gatorade National High School Volleyball Player of the Year honor.
• The 12-player team averages 6-3 in height, including a pair of 6-8 middles in Rachael Kramer and Dana Rettke. Five players are at least 6-4 in height.

Name (Position, School, Height, College Eligibility Remaining, Hometown, Youth Club)

T'ara Ceasar (OH, University of Georgia, 6-1, 3, Panama City, Florida, Prostyle Tallahassee Volleyball Club/Team Florida)

Thayer Hall (OH, University of Florida, 6-3, 4, Moore, South Carolina, Upward Stars)

Taryn Kloth (OH, Creighton University, 6-4, 1, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Kairos Elite)

Rachael Kramer (M, University of Florida, 6-8, 2, Phoenix, Arizona, Aspire Volleyball Club)

Rebecca Latham (OPP, University of Denver, 6-4, 1, Austin, Texas, Austin Juniors)

Madison Lilley (S, University of Kentucky, 5-11, 3, Overland Park, Kansas, KC Power)

Carlyle Nusbaum (OH, Lipscomb University, 5-10, 1, Overland Park, Kansas, ASICS MAVS)

Julia Patterson (S, University of Arizona, 5-11, 2, Los Alamitos, California, Seal Beach Volleyball Club)

Dana Rettke (M, University of Wisconsin, 6-8, 3, Riverside, Illinois, 1^st Alliance Volleyball Club)

Jenna Rosenthal (M, Marquette University, 6-6, 1, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, West Bend Volleyball Club)

Stephanie Samedy (OPP, University of Minnesota, 6-2, 3, Clermont, Florida, Top Select Volleyball Academy)

Molly Sauer (L, University of Louisville, 5-11, 1, Louisville, Kentucky, KIVA)

Head Coach: Chris Tamas (head coach, University of Illinois)

Assistant Coach: Joe Trinsey (USA Volleyball High Performance)

Assistant Coach: Natalie Morgan (assistant coach, Loyola Marymount University)

Technical Coordinator: Jessica Rae Aschenbrenner (director of operations, University of Denver)

Athletic Trainer: Margaret Marion (University of Illinois)

Head of Delegation: Erin Leaser

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