March 6, 2014
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Junior Morgan Bergren was one of 12 players selected by USA Volleyball to represent the U.S. Collegiate National Team during a tour of China from June 17-27, it was announced by the association on Thursday.
The roster represents 12 different collegiate programs with athletes having remaining eligibility. The tour is being organized by Bring It Promotions. The U.S. Collegiate National Team, which will train at the University of Southern California June 13-15 before leaving for China, will play six matches against Chinese collegiate and adult teams.
“It’s unbelievable,” Bergren said. “It’s starting my big dream of continuing to play after college, and hopefully it’s helping me improve myself for Kentucky. I’m so honored and humbled and ready to experience as much as I can over there.”
Bergren finished her sophomore campaign with 10.9 assists per set as UK’s starting setter in all 31 matches this season. The Muncie, Ind., native contributed 130 kills, 192 digs and 77 blocks for the season. Her 1,215 assists for the year ranked third for a single-season in the 25-point rally scoring era records books at Kentucky.
“We’re excited for the opportunity for Morgan,” UK coach Craig Skinner said. “She’s worked very hard. She tried out for the same group last year and didn’t make any of the teams, so the hard work she’s put in throughout the last 12 months have been significant. She’ll do a great job representing Kentucky and on the USA Collegiate National Team.”
The junior setter was one of four UK players who tried out for various USA Volleyball teams in February. Bergren was joined by senior Jackie Napper, sophomore Anni Thomasson and freshman Emily Franklin.
“It’s always an awesome experience,” Bergren said. “I went last year, just to get a feel for things, and going back this year, training hard throughout the spring, getting stronger, I felt like a totally different player going back this year. I felt pretty good and confident about it. It’s always fun getting to play with the top players in the U.S., so I’m really excited to go to China with them.”
USA Volleyball will have two other opportunities for athletes to take part in the U.S. Collegiate National Team program representing 60 total athletes this summer. USA Volleyball will announce later this month its 12-player U.S. Collegiate National Team that will play friendly matches in Maribor, Slovenia, and compete in the Global Challenge in Pula, Croatia. The European trip will take place July 9-18.
In addition, USA Volleyball will select 36 players to participate in the U.S. Collegiate National Team program that will train and compete in conjunction with the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships from June 22 to July 1. The players will be placed onto three teams and compete in a round-robin event along with a Canadian Senior A2 team.
Athlete selections for all three U.S. Collegiate National Team programs are being determined based on evaluations from the U.S. Women’s National Team Open tryouts held Feb. 21-23 in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Visit UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information on the Kentucky volleyball team and all 22 varsity sports. For additional info on the volleyball team like Kentucky Volleyball on Facebook or follow the team on Twitter at @KentuckyVB.
