Feb. 20, 2013

OXFORD, Miss. – Two current Rebels and a future Rebel will be putting their talents on display in Colorado Springs, Colo., from Friday-Sunday, as they vie for a spot on the U.S. Women’s National A2 Program or the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team.

Rising senior outside hitter Kara Morgan will be trying out for the U.S. Women’s National A2 Program, while rising sophomore middle blocker Nakeyta Clair and incoming freshman setter Aubrey Edie will be competing for a spot on the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team.

“The exposure to the top talent in the country will be great for Kara and Nakeyta, and I know they belong playing against them,” Ole Miss volleyball head coach Joe Getzin said. “For Nakeyta, because of her young age, she will be trying out for the junior national team. Hopefully after a year of SEC play and competing against SEC-level talent she’ll be able to make that team. We have had Allegra Wells make the A2 team in the past. We’ll also have one of our commits Aubrey Edie trying out for the junior national team this weekend.”

The U.S. Women's National Volleyball Senior A2 program is available to athletes with collegiate eligibility remaining for the 2013 season. This program is scheduled to take place in Dallas from June 25 to July 4. A projected 48 athletes will be invited to participate in the program, which will include training and competing at the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships (GJNC) from July 1-4, according to a USA Volleyball news release.

“I am looking forward to playing with the best of the best,” Morgan said. “I am going to learn from these girls and these coaches and I’m going to better my game while competing for a spot on the A2 team. I want to take my senior year and go out with a bang starting this weekend at the tryouts. Going into this weekend, I want to represent Ole Miss and our volleyball team by going all out and doing my best. Whatever happens, happens. I’m just going to play my heart out and at the end that’s going to be the most important thing.”

The U.S. Women’s Junior Program is available for athletes born in either 1994 or 1995. The U.S. Women’s Junior National Volleyball Team will compete in the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Junior World Championship from June 21-30 at Brno, Czech Republic.

“I’m looking forward to the experience and competing against these girls who play at the top schools in the country,” Clair said. “I’m going into it with a determined mindset. These are girls who always make these teams, and I’m kind of a new player. I’m going to be focused and determined to make the team.”

According to its news release, USA Volleyball has a projected record of 243 athletes signed up to participate in the open tryouts, which will take place in Sports Center II at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

“What we’ve seen in the past, having Kara and Nakeyta compete at that level should benefit us,” Getzin said. “We open up spring training Monday so they’ll roll right into it. This gives them some great exposure to a high level of play.”

For all Ole Miss volleyball news and information, go to OleMissSports.com, and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissVB and on Facebook at Ole Miss Volleyball.