Martin Selected for USA Volleyball’s 2024 Women’s Collegiate Team
Rising junior and two-time All-BIG EAST selection, Ava Martin of Creighton Volleyball, is among the 19 women’s collegiate athletes chosen for the 2024 Women’s Collegiate National Team.
The team will train from June 30 to July 6 in Anaheim, California, alongside the U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team.
Setters for the team include Kate Lang, Mia Tuaniga, and Molly Wilson. The Liberos are Lauren Briseño, Kate Georgiades, and Allison Jacobs. The outside hitters are Aliyah Carter, Claire Little, Ava Martin, Emmi Sellman, and Mckenna Wucherer. The opposites are Jordan Iliff, Logan Lednicky, and Megan Wilson. The middle blockers are Desiree Becker, Lydia Martyn, Ifenna Cos-Okpalla, Anna Dodson, and Phekran Kong.
Chris McGown from Gold Medal Squared will be the team’s head coach.
“Working with the Women’s Collegiate National Team’s staff and athletes is a great honor,” McGown said. “It’s inspiring to think our efforts could contribute to someone’s Olympic journey. Our staff is committed to giving our best each day, and I’m proud of the athletes’ dedication that got them here. We’re eager to help them improve further.”
A rising junior from Overland Park, Kansas, Martin has received All-BIG EAST honors in her first two collegiate seasons and was an Honorable Mention All-American by Volleyball Magazine following the 2023 season. She ranked fourth in the BIG EAST with 3.59 kills per set, fifth with 3.95 points per set, and 11th with a .280 hitting percentage during her sophomore year. She was also named MVP of the Diet Coke Classic, leading Creighton to victories over High Point and No. 9 Minnesota.
Martin was one of four Bluejays who attended tryouts in Colorado Springs in February, along with Elise Goetzinger, Destiny Ndam-Simpson, and Norah Sis.
Creighton has had several players participate internationally with USA Volleyball recently, including Brittany Witt (Thailand), Jaali Winters (Croatia), Taryn Kloth (China), and Norah Sis (Mexico). Sis has been part of consecutive gold medal-winning teams at the U21 Women’s NORCECA Pan American Cup, and Kloth is set to become Creighton’s first female Olympian in Paris next month.
Creighton concluded the 2023 season with a 29-5 record, reaching the program’s third Sweet 16 since 2015 and securing a 10th consecutive BIG EAST regular-season title under coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth.
Roster:
– Desiree Becker (MB, 6-2, 2001, Dewitt, Mich., UCLA, Lakeshore)
– Lauren Briseño (L, 5-7, 2003, San Antonio, Texas, Baylor, Lone Star)
– Lydia Martyn (MB, 6-3, 2002, Anderson, S.C., Oklahoma, Palmetto)
– Aliyah Carter (OH, 5-10, 2002, Sherrill, Iowa, Kansas State, Iowa)
– Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (MB, 6-2, 2004, College Station, Texas, Texas A&M, Lone Star)
– Anna Dodson (MB, 6-5, 2001, Fort Collins, Colo., UCLA, Rocky Mountain)
– Kate Georgiades (L, 5-9, 2002, College Station, Texas, Houston, Lone Star)
– Jordan Iliff (OPP, 6-2, 2002, Saint Louis, Mo., Univ. of Missouri, Gateway)
– Allison Jacobs (L, 5-11, 2002, Stevenson Ranch, Calif., Univ. of Michigan, Southern California)
– Phekran Kong (MB, 6-4, 2001, Louisville, Ken., Univ. of Louisville, Pioneer)
– Kate Lang (S, 5-10, 2002, Honolulu, Hawaii, Univ. of Hawaii, Aloha)
– Logan Lednicky (OPP, 6-3 2004, Fulshear, Texas, Texas A&M, Lone Star)
– Claire Little (OH, 6-2, 2004, Winchester, Calif., BYU, Southern California)
– Ava Martin (OH, 6-1, 2004, Overland Park, Kan., Creighton, Heart of America)
– Emmi Sellman (OH, 6-4, 2005, Burtonsville, Md., Ohio State, Chesapeake Region)
– Mia Tuaniga (S, 5-9, 2001, Long Beach, Calif., Univ. of Southern California, Southern California)
– Molly Wilson (S, 5-11, 2002, Murrietta, Calif., Univ. of Washington, Southern California)
– Megan Wilson (Opp, 6-4, 2002, Houston, Texas, Univ. of Kentucky, Lone Star)
– Mckenna Wucherer (OH, 6-1, 2004, Brookfield, Wis., Univ. of Minnesota, Badger)
Coaching Staff:
– Head Coach: Chris McGown, Gold Medal Squared
– Assistant Coaches: Suzie Fritz, LOVB; Danielle Scott, LOVB; Todd Daganais, PVF
– Performance Analyst: Michael Bouril, Purdue
– Athletic Trainer: Cherryl Bueno
– Team Leader: Alex Purvey, NTDP
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