PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Panthers sophomore outside hitter Blair Bayless will represent USA Volleyball in a U-21 level tournament this summer.
Bayless recently participated in a training camp held in Anaheim, California from June 14-22 and was named to the final 12 of the first 20 players to represent the United States at the 2024 Women’s U21 NORCECA Continental Championship to be held in Toronto, Canada from June 25-30.
Roster
OH Blair Bayless (University of Pittsburgh), Julia Bryashov (Stanford University), Brooklyn Deley (UK), Camryn Givadlo (University of Utah), Teraya Sigler (University of Nebraska)
MB: Faber Anyanwu, USC; Andy Jackson, Nebraska; Taylor Harvey, Texas
OPP: Kennedy Martin, Florida
S: Bergen Riley, NE, Campbell Flynn, NE
L: Ramsey Gary, Indiana— Lincoln Arneal (@Lincoln_VB) June 24, 2024
Bayless replaced outside hitter Harper Murray, the Nebraska Big Ten College Freshman of the Year, when the roster was announced on April 30. Police charged Murray with DUI in early April after he tested positive for .169 alcohol, twice the legal limit, and also with reckless driving, obstructing a police officer, possession of alcohol as a minor and possession of a false ID.
The team’s press release did not mention this as a reason why Murray did not make the team, but it was likely a major factor in her not making the team.
Bayless appeared in 19 matches and 27 sets as a freshman last season, averaging 47.0 points, 43 kills, 8.0 blocks and a .263 hitting percentage.
She recorded a season-high eight kills and a .667 hitting percentage in a home win over Syracuse on October 1. Other notable matches for her include a home win over UMBC on September 20 where she recorded six kills on seven attempts for a .857 hitting percentage, and an away win over Montana on August 26 where she recorded six kills on eight attempts for a .750 hitting percentage and a season-high three blocks.
Bayless had some experience playing for the U.S. national team before coming to Pittsburgh, when she and fellow sophomore right-side hitter Olivia Babcock led the U.S. to a gold medal at the U-19 Pan American Cup last summer.
She was named MVP of the tournament after recording 34 points with 22 kills, 9 aces and 3.0 total blocks, and she also dominated in the gold medal game against Mexico, recording 10 points with 7 kills, 2 aces and 1 block.
This summer, Babcock will represent the United States at the NORCECA Women’s Final Six Pan American Cup in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from June 26-30.
Nebraska still has four players on its U-21 roster despite Murray’s absence, including middle blocker Andy Jackson, setters Bergen Riley and Campbell Flynn and outside hitter Teraya Sigler. Flynn and Sigler are committed to the class of 2025. Libero Laney Choboy was also scheduled to play in the tournament but is out with a minor injury.
Bayless will be joined on the team by Stanford outside hitter Julia Bryashov, along with Kentucky’s Brooklyn DeLay, Utah’s Camryn Gibadlo and Sigler.
Other players on the U.S. team are middle blocker Faber Anyanwu from USC and Taylor Harvey from Texas, opposite hitter Kennedy Martin from Florida and libero Ramsey Gary from Indiana.
The U.S. will play the Dominican Republic on June 25 at 1:30 p.m., Suriname on June 26 at 11 a.m. and Puerto Rico on June 27 at 1:30 p.m. The quarterfinals will be played on June 28, the semifinals on June 29 and the placing games on June 30.
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