March 23, 2011
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Junior outside hitter Ashley Frazier has been selected to the 2011 United States Women’s National A2 Program it was announced by USA Volleyball. Frazier is among 36 athletes with college eligibility selected for the program which includes training and competition this summer.
“We’re really excited for Ashley,” UK coach Craig Skinner said. “This is an opportunity that is very much deserved. There’s no question that Ashley will represent the US and Kentucky well.”
The U.S. Women’s National A2 Program will take place in Dallas from May 23 through June 1. The program includes training and competition in the 2011 USA Volleyball Open National Championships in the Open Division from May 28-31. USA Volleyball considers the event as the National Championship for the sport of volleyball in the United States.
Athletes selected to the U.S. Women’s National A2 Program were selected from the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts held Feb. 25-27 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. A record 204 athletes participated in the three-day tryouts, representing 81 different college programs.The 2011 U.S. Women’s National A2 Program will have six setters, nine middle blockers, 10 outside hitters, five opposites and six liberos.
Frazier sat out of competition during the 2010 season for the Wildcats after transferring from Alabama where she spent her first two seasons. Despite not appearing on the court on game days, she was instrumental in helping UK achieve an unprecedented sixth consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament last season. Frazier provided a powerful force and a competitive fire on the `B’ side of the net during practice in helping Kentucky to its sixth straight 17-win season.
While with the Crimson Tide, Frazier averaged 2.85 kills per set and 0.49 blocks. Following a career high 20-kill performance against South Carolina, Frazier was tabbed the SEC Player of the Week and the Collegiate Volleyball Update National Player of the Week on Sept. 22, 2009.
During the training sessions in Dallas, the coaching staff will divide the 36 players into three teams of 12 players to compete in the USA Volleyball Open National Championships.
Follow along with UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information regarding the Kentucky volleyball team and all of UK’s 22 sports.
