By Jocelyn VerVelde, TTU Sports Information
Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – For the second straight year, the
Tennessee Tech volleyball team proudly boasts that one of its
student-athletes has been selected to attend the U.S. Women's
Volleyball open tryout this weekend in Colorado Springs, Colo.
"As our team gets stronger and more experienced, we expect our players to start to get chosen for some of these summer programs," said head coach Dave Zelenock. "It's hard to break into the USA pipeline, but by only sending our best each year, we start to make an impression on the USA Staff."
Golden Eagle junior Cody Dodd follows graduating senior Courtney Smith in this endeavor. Smith attended last season.
"I'm super excited about going to the tryout and kind of nervous at the same time," Dodd said of the opportunity. "I just want to make Tech and everyone proud."
Dodd was an offensive powerhouse this past season for the Golden Eagles. The 6-foot-4 opposite put down a team-high 433 kills, averaging 3.55 per set, while scoring 4.31 points per game. She also scooped up 2.69 digs per set on a total of 328 digs, and added 89 total blocks defensively. Her success earned her a place on the 2014 All-Ohio Valley Conference team.
The U.S. Collegiate National Team is available to athletes with collegiate eligibility remaining for the 2015 season. Throughout the tryout process, USA Volleyball will be identifying prospective athletes for the following three different programs: first and foremost the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team Program; those not selected to the National Team may also be considered for an invitation to the U.S. Collegiate National Teams and/or U.S. Women's Junior National Volleyball Team program and its various programs.
"I think it will open her [Dodd's] eyes," Zelenock said of the Cookeville, Tenn., native. "She has all the tools she needs to be a top player in the country, but seeing the drive these kids have is what will surprise her. I know Courtney came back last year with a different outlook on things and I hope Cody has the same experience. Above all, I want her to see what the best is, so when we play teams in the OVC, it almost seems easy compared to playing the kids from those Top 10 schools."
The tryout will be live streamed with updates throughout: Live Feed
