Final 12-Player Roster Announced for U.S. Girls' Youth National Team

BY KELLI LEGRANDE | JULY 23, 2015, 9:12 P.M. (ET)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 23, 2015)—The U.S. Girls’ Youth National Volleyball Team (GYNT) finalized its 12-player roster that will represent the United States at the 2015 FIVB Girls’ U18 World Championship in Lima, Peru, on August 7-16. 

The GYNT is the highest level of programming for players born in 1998 or 1999. Team USA qualified for the World Championship after finishing with the silver medal at the 2014 NORCECA Women’s U18 Continental Championship in Costa Rica.

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The 12 players include Brionne Butler (East Bernard, Texas), Regan Pittman (Spring Hill, Kan.), Kathryn Plummer (Aliso Viejo, Calif.), Alexis Sun (Encinitas, Calif.), Ronika Stone (San Jose, Calif.), Madison Lilley (Overland Park, Kan.), Khalia Lanier (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Paige Hammons (Louisville, Ky.), Morgan Hentz (Lakeside Park, Ky.), Stephanie Samedy (Clermont, Fla.), Sydney Hilley (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) and Tiffany Clark (Naperville, Ill.). 

Kathryn Plummer, captain of the 2014 GYNT, is the only returner from the 2014 GYNT squad. 

Players were selected through USA Volleyball High Performance tryouts held across the country. The team representseight states and eight USA Volleyball regions. 

The GYNT spent the last few days at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Colorado Springs, Colo., as the roster was shaved down from 20 to 12. 

The dozen players will continue training at the OTC July 24-28 before heading to the FIVB Volleyball Girls’ Youth World Championship set for Aug. 7-16 in Peru. Group play will be held from Aug. 8-12, followed by bracket play Aug. 14-16. 

Prior to the World Championship event, the GYNT travels to Buenos Aires, Argentina, on July 28 to participate in a Pre-World Championship Competition hosted by the Argentina Volleyball Federation. The GYNT delegation will travel to Lima on Aug. 4 to train and acclimate before the World Championship. 

“The FIVB World Championship will offer these talented athletes an opportunity to represent the USA on an international stage and compete with the best players in the world,” said U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team Head Coach Jim Stone, who returns for his eight consecutive season leading the GYNT program. “It is a wonderful challenge to compete successfully in this type of event with a short training window. I like the players we have in the mix and I'm confident we will represent the USA in a positive manner.”

Pool A consists of Egypt, Korea, Mexico, Peru and Chinese Tapei. Pool B is made up of China, Germany, Poland and Serbia. Pool C is comprised of Argentina, Belgium, Dominican Republic, Russia and USA. While Pool D contains Brazil, Cuba, Italy, Japan and Turkey. 

The United States opens play on Aug. 8 against the Dominican Republic at 1:00 pm ET, followed by Argentina on Aug. 9 at 11:00 a.m. ET, Russia on Aug. 10 at 11:00 a.m. ET and Belgium Aug. 11 at 11:00 a.m. ET. 

Fans, friends and family members will be able to follow the journey of the GYNT through the HP Indoor Tumblr and its homepage. 

2015 U.S. Girls' Youth National Team
Name (Position, Height, Hometown, Club, Region)
Brionne Butler (MB, 6-3, East Bernard, Texas, Texstar, Lone Star Region)
Tiffany Clark (L, 5-11, Naperville, Ill., Sports Performance, Great Lakes Region)
Paige Hammons (OH, 6-2, Louisville, Ky., Kentucky Indiana Volleyball Association, Pioneer Region)
Morgan Hentz (L, 5-9, Lakeside Park, Ky., Northern Kentucky Volleyball Club, Pioneer Region)
Sydney Hilley (S, 5-11, Brooklyn Park, Minn., Minnesota Select, North Country Region)
Khalia Lanier (OH, 6-2, Scottsdale, Ariz., AZ Storm, Arizona Region)
Madison Lilley (S, 5-11, Overland Park, Kan., KC Power, Heart of America Region)
Regan Pittman (MB, 6-4, Spring Hill, Kan., KC Power, Heart of America Region)
Kathryn Plummer (S, 6-6, Aliso Viejo, Calif., Tstreet Volleyball Club, Southern California Region)
Stephanie Samedy (MB, 6-2, Clermont, Fla., Top Select Volleyball Academy, Florida Region)
Ronika Stone (MB, 6-2, San Jose, Calif., Vision Volleyball Club, Northern California Region)
Lexi Sun (OH, 6-3, Encinitas, Calif., Coast VBC, Southern California Region)

Head Coach: Jim Stone
Assistant Coaches: Lindsey Devine, Michelle Chatman
Technical Coordinator: Jared Hazel
Team Leader: Erin Leaser



Pre-World Championship Schedule—Buenos Aires, Argentina
July 28 – Aug. 3: Friendly matches against Italy, Argentina and Mexico
All matches will be played in the afternoon, but set times have not yet been determined. 

World Championship Schedule—Lima, Peru
Aug. 8: USA vs. Dominican Republic 1:00 p.m. ET
Aug. 9: USA vs. Argentina 11:00 a.m ET
Aug. 10: USA vs. Russia 11:00 a.m. ET 
Aug. 11: USA vs. Belgium 11:00 a.m. ET.
Aug 14-16: Depends on pool play