Merritt Beason, Gabrielle Essix, Bre Kelley and Elli McKissock will train June 19-25 in Anaheim, Calif.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – USA Volleyball has announced players and staff on the 2022 U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team (WCNT) and four Gators found themselves on the roster.
Merritt Beason, Gabrielle Essix, Bre Kelley and Elli McKissock were selected to the 38-player team that will train June 19-25 at the National Team Training Center in Anaheim, Calif. The coaching staff consists of seven members, including three Olympic medal winners and two others with Olympic Coaching experience.
The four Gators selected ties Minnesota for the most players earning roster spots. USC (3), BYU (2), Ohio State (2), Rice (2) and Stanford (2) all follow.
Along with the WNT Open Program and the WNT Spring Training Camp, the WCNT is an opportunity for the U.S. Women’s National Team (WNT) coaching staff to observe and evaluate the NCAA athletes with the highest potential. Several former WCNT members are now on the WNT, including 2020 Olympic gold medalists Michelle Bartsch- Hackley, Annie Drews, Chiaka Ogbogu, Kelsey Robinson and Jordan Thompson.
Athletes will train among the best collegiate players in the country, watch the Women’s National Team training sessions, study the USA systems, meet with Tokyo 2020 Olympians, as well as be observed by the WNT staff.
Rob Browning, head coach of the St. Mary’s women’s volleyball team, will serve as the Collegiate Team’s head coach. Browning has assisted the U.S. Men’s National Team at three Olympic Games and has served as a consultant coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team over the last four years.
“I am honored to be given the opportunity to work with the USA Women’s Collegiate National Team,” Browning said. “To be in the gym with these remarkable athletes and to teach alongside these amazing coaches is a true privilege. Any time I get to wear USA and contribute to the success of the greatest national volleyball federation in the world, I feel blessed. I can’t wait to get going!”
Assistant coaches for the team will be Tayyiba Haneef-Park, Danielle Scott, Courtney Thompson and Carlos Moreno. Haneef-Park, Scott and Thompson all won Olympic medals as part of the Women’s National Team and have moved on to coaching careers.
Find a list of 2021 collegiate accolades for each of the Gators below:
Merritt Beason
* 2021 SEC All-Freshman Team
* Two-time SEC Freshman of the Week (Oct. 4, Nov. 8)
* Saw action in all 31 matches during her freshman season, getting the start on the right side for the Gators
* Recorded her first career double-double at Arkansas on Nov. 13, posting 10 kills and a career-high 17 digs
* Posted 16 kills and 17 points against Minnesota on Sept. 5 – both career-best marks
* Notched three service aces against Florida A&M on Dec. 2
* Reached double-digit kills in five matches
* Registered double-digit digs in two matches
* Recorded a career-high six blocks against Baylor (Sept. 10)
* Ranked second on the team in blocks, third on the team in kills and points, fifth in digs, and sixth in assists and service aces
* Finished the season with 217 kills, 173 digs, 86.0 blocks, 276.0 points, 15 service aces and nine assists
Gabrielle Essix
* Represented the US at the 2021 FIVB Women’s Under-20 World Championship in July of 2021
* Saw action in 14 matches and 29 sets during her freshman season
* Recorded a career-high six kills against Coastal Carolina on Sept. 18
* Posted a season-best hitting percentage of .750 against Florida State on Sept. 15
* Registered six blocks against Mississippi State on Sept. 23
* Finished the season with 29 kills, 19 blocks and 39.5 points
Bre Kelley
* 2021 SEC All-Freshman Team
* Saw action in 19 matches and 50 sets during her rookie campaign
* Posted nine kills, seven blocks and 12.5 points against Arkansas on Nov. 13 – all career-high marks
* Notched a career-best three digs against South Carolina (Nov. 21)
* Recorded an assist against Missouri on Oct. 30
* Ranked fifth on the team in blocks
* Finished the season with 59 kills, 51 blocks, nine digs and 87 points
Elli McKissock
* 2021 AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention
* Two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 8, Nov. 22)
* 2020 SEC All-Freshman Team
* 2020 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
* One-time 2020-21 SEC Defensive Player of the Week (2/15)
* One-time 2020-21 SEC Freshman of the Week (4/2)
* Started all 31 matches for the Gators in the libero jersey
* Recorded double-digit digs in 25 matches this season
* Registered six matches with 20+ digs, including a career-high 31 digs on Sept. 23
* Her 31-dig performance against Mississippi State on Sept. 23 is the fourth-highest total in the league this season
* Posted a season-high nine assists against Tennessee on Nov. 4
* Notched a career-high four service aces against Minnesota on Sept. 5
* Ranked first on the team in digs, second in assists and service aces
* Finished the season with 465 digs, 114 assists and 33.0 points
2022 U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team
Anota Adekunle (MB, Rice University)
Erin Anderson (OH, BYU)
Merritt Beason (OH, University of Florida)
Paige Briggs (OH, Western Kentucky University)
Anna Dixon (OH, University of Missouri)
Gabrielle Essix (MB, University of Florida)
Skylar Fields (OPP, University of Southern California)
Morgahn Fingall (OPP, University of Tennessee)
Sarah Franklin (OH, University of Wisconsin)
Grace Frohling (OPP, University of San Diego)
Kate Georgiades (L, University of Houston)
Heather Gneiting (MB, BYU)
Elise Goetzinger (MB, University of Kentucky)
Carly Graham (S, Rice University)
Joi Harvey (MB, United States Air Force Academy)
Kaitlin Hord (MB, University of Nebraska)
Amber Igiede (MB, University of Hawaii at Manoa)
Bre Kelley (MB, University of Florida)
Kendall Kipp (OPP, Stanford University)
Taylor Landfair (OH, University of Minnesota)
Janice Leao (MB, University of Miami)
Chelsey Lockey (S, Florida Gulf Coast University)
CC McGraw (L, University of Minnesota)
Elli McKissock (L, University of Florida)
Kylie Murr (L, Ohio State University)
Elena Oglivie (L, Stanford University)
Machaela Podraza (S, Ohio State University)
Madelyn Robinson (OH, University of Utah)
Adanna Rollins (OH, TBD)
Reagan Rutherford (OPP, University of Kentucky)
Katy Ryan (OPP, Washington State University)
Shannon Scully (L, University of Southern California)
Melani Shaffmaster (S, University of Minnesota)
Mckenna Slavik (S, Clemson University)
Sabrina Starks (MB, University of Pittsburgh)
Mia Tuaniga (S, University of Southern California)
Jenna Wenaas (OH, University of Minnesota)
Kashauna Williams (OH, Penn State University)
Staff
Head Coach Rob Browning (St. Mary’s University)
Assistant Coach Tayyiba Haneef-Park (University of Oregon; 2004, ’08, ’12 Olympian)
Assistant Coach Danielle Scott (USA Volleyball; 1996, 2000, ’04, ’08, ’12 Olympian)
Assistant Coach Courtney Thompson (Finding Mastery; 2012 Olympian)
Assistant Coach Carlos Moreno (Arizona State)
Assistant Coach/Analyst Jeff Liu (Grand Canyon University)
Analyst Annemarie Hickey (University of Wisconsin)
Team Leader Courtney Smith (NTDP)
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