Lobos Represented at USA VB Tryouts
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The University of New Mexico volleyball team will be well represented at the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts set to take place at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., starting this Friday, Feb. 21.
Among the 214 athletes invited to the three-day tryout will be setter Jaclyn Inclan and libero Alena Moldan. In addition, three members of the UNM coaching staff will also be in attendance working with USA Volleyball. UNM head coach Jon Newman-Gonchar will be a court evaluator while assistant coach April Sanchez will be a court assistant as well as a technical assistant. Ariel Sanchez, UNM’s director of volleyball operations, will serve as a technical assistant.
“I’m excited for two of our athletes and three of our staff members to be able to represent Lobo volleyball at such a prestigious event,” Newman-Gonchar said. “The USA Open Tryout is a showcase of the best collegiate players in the country and a truly humbling experience for our athletes to go see what they can do on such a large stage.
“We talk daily about how we are all about learning and growing in our program, and there is not a better platform for that experience to play out on.”
In total, there will be 214 athletes from 94 colleges with 69 outside hitters, 47 liberos, 37 middles, 37 setters and 24 opposites.
The athletes will be competing for potential spots on the U.S Women’s National Team and 56 spots on the U.S. Collegiate National Team programs. Four athletes are trying out for the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team that will compete in the 2020 NORCECA Women’s U20 Continental Championship.
Tryouts will be live streamed, which can be accessed HERE.
Inclan just completed her redshirt-sophomore season for the Lobos, in which she appeared in 29 matches, starting in 28, and played in 111 sets. The Arizona native led the Lobos with 13 double-doubles and with 662 assists, averaging 5.96 assists per set. In 18 matches, Inclan recorded 20-plus assists, 30-plus in seven matches and had a season-high 42 against Grand Canyon. In addition, Inclan finished second on the team in digs with 274 (2.47 d/s) and fifth in service aces with 15.
Moldan is coming off of her freshman season with the Lobos, starting in all 30 games and played in all 115 sets at the libero position. The Minnesota native led UNM in digs with 422, averaging 3.67 d/s, was third on the team in assists with 98 and fourth in service aces at 22. Moldan posted 20-plus digs five times, double figures in 22 matches and led the team in digs in 20 matches.
Following the tryouts, the entire Lobo team will be hosting a spring tournament on April 4 and April 17 with more details to be released in the coming weeks. The Grass Bash is also set to return, scheduled for May 2-3.