Wong-Orantes Selected to U.S. National Team Roster

Nebraska libero Justine Wong-Orantes has been selected to the U.S. Women's Volleyball National Team that will compete at the Pan American Cup from July 2 to July 10 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Wong-Orantes, the 2015 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the national champion Huskers, was one of 12 athletes selected from a training camp pool of 19 for the Pan Am Cup roster. She claimed the lone libero spot on the roster. The 12 athletes are either still in college or recently completed eligibility for their respective colleges. 

Wong-Orantes was a third-team AVCA All-American in 2015 after averaging 4.55 digs per set. She totaled 555 digs on the season, the third-most by a Husker in school history. In addition to her Big Ten defensive honor, Wong-Orantes was selected to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team and was a first-team All-American by PrepVolleyball.com. 

As this competition runs concurrently with the World Grand Prix, U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly has named University of Pittsburgh Head Coach Dan Fisher to lead the Pan American Cup squad. Fisher served in a similar role at the 2015 Pan American Games and led the U.S. to the gold medal, beating Brazil in the championship match. The United States has won three of the past four Pan American Cups.

The U.S. squad is part of the six-team Pool B with Argentina, Costa Rica, Cuba, Peru and Trinidad & Tobago. The Americans open pool play on July 2 against Peru, followed by Trinidad & Tobago on July 3, Cuba on July 4, Costa Rica on July 5 and Argentina on July 6.

Pool A includes Canada, Colombia, host Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Quarterfinals are set for July 8 with crossover second- and third-place finishers facing off. The two pool winners advance directly to the semifinals on July 9 with the medal rounds set for July 10.

The U.S. has won the Pan American Cup three of the past four years and four total times since the inaugural event in 2002.

U.S. Women’s Roster for Pan American Cup
Name (Position, Height, Hometown, College)
1 - Lauren Carlini (S, 6-2, West Aurora, Illinois, University of Wisconsin)
3 - Micha Hancock (S, 5-11, Edmond, Oklahoma, Penn State)
4 - Megan Courtney (OH, 6-1, Dayton, Ohio, Penn State)
5 - Brittany Howard (OH, 6-3, Los Altos, California, Stanford University)
6 - Madi Kingdon (OH, 6-1, Phoenix, Arizona, University of Arizona)
7 - Taylor Simpson (OH, 6-3, Colorado Springs, Colorado, University of Colorado)
10 - Alex Holston (OPP, 6-1, Olney, Maryland, University of Florida)
11 - Nikki Taylor (OPP, 6-3, Honolulu, Hawaii, University of Hawaii)
12 – Carly Wopat (MB, 6-2, Santa Barbara, California, Stanford University)
13 - Rhamat Alhassan (M, 6-4, Glenarden, Maryland, University of Florida)
14 - Kelsie Payne (M, 6-3, Austin, Texas, University of Kansas)
22 - Justine Wong-Orantes (L, 5-6, Cypress, California, University of Nebraska)

U.S. Pan American Cup Schedule
July 2 - vs. Peru (5 p.m. CT)
July 3 - vs. Trinidad and Tobago (4 p.m. CT)
July 4 - vs. Cuba (5 p.m. CT)
July 5 - vs. Costa Rica (4 p.m. CT)
July 6 - vs. Argentina (5 p.m. CT)
July 8 - Quarterfinals
July 9 - Semifinals
July 10 - Final