Michigan State University Athletics
Moster Training With USA Volleyball
1/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
East Lansing, Michigan - Michigan State All-American libero Kori Moster is taking part in USA Volleyball's Winter Training Block, which runs January 5-16 at USA National Team Center in Anaheim, Calif. The Winter Training Block is under the direction of Karch Kiraly, head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team.
Moster is the second player selected in as many years from Michigan State - Alexis Mathews competed at the training block last year, when it ran for three months in Anaheim. The training block was shortened to a two-week period in 2015 , as the roster consists mostly of collegiate athletes or individuals who just finished collegiate eligibility this past December. Moster is one of six Big Ten athletes participating, as the training roster of aspiring U.S. Women's National Team players includes opposites Jen Hamson (BYU),Alex Holston (Florida) and Karsta Lowe (UCLA); setters Lexi Dannemiller (Michigan) and Micha Hancock (Penn State); middle blockers Inky Ajanaku(Stanford), Rhamat Alhassan (Florida), Alaysia Brown(San Diego) and Haleigh Washington (Penn State); outside hitters Ali Frantti (Penn State), Falyn Fonoimoana (formerly of Southern California), Macey Gardner (Arizona State), Taylor Simpson (Colorado) and Nicole Walch (Florida State); and liberos Moster, Kayla Banwarth(Team USA, formerly of Nebraska), and Stevie Robinson (formerly of Pepperdine and Southern California).
"Kori has worked so hard for this opportunity," said head coach Cathy George. "She is so talented and so driven - and there is no doubt in my mind that she will represent herself well, and also represent Michigan State in a very positive manner. We're thrilled that our program has continued to produce national team and professional-caliber players. We're looking forward to seeing Kori's progress at the training block."
Moster, an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection in 2014, was the 2012 and 2013 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Among the top players at her position in the country, Moster owns the Spartan career digs record (2,217), which ranks third all-time among Big Ten career dig leaders. Moster averaged 4.62 digs per set as a senior, which ranks third in the Big Ten overall. She has held the school's career digs record since her junior season, and holds four of the top eight single-season dig performances in school history. Her 550 digs this season is fourth among single-season MSU marks. She has been a part of the USA Volleyball A2 program, and was a member of the US Collegiate National Team which toured China last June.
USA Volleyball will host two Collegiate All-Star Showcase matches involving members of its winter training block of athletes. The first match is scheduled for Jan. 9 at Irvine Valley College (Irvine, Calif.), followed by a Jan. 15 contest at AIM Sports Complex (Seal Beach, Calif.). Both contests start at 7 p.m. PT.
