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O N T H E R A D A R


A look at the rising stars in the USA Volleyball High Performance pipeline


Kathryn Plummer Aliso Viejo, Calif.


Rhamat Alhassan Glenarden, Md.


Rhamat Alhassan, a 6-5 middle blocker with an 11-1 jump reach, was selected as the most valuable player and Best Blocker of the NORCECA Women’s U-20 Conti- nental Championship after leading the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team to the gold medal. Alhassan, who started her colle- giate career at the University of Florida this fall, scored 50 points and averaged 1.00 blocks per set at the NORCECA event. She was listed as No. 3 on PrepVolleyball. com’s Senior Aces despite her late start in the sport as a sophomore in high school.


Kathryn Plummer had a busy summer on the sand and Sport Court, winning two medals along the way. She and beach partner Morgan Martin won the FIVB Beach Volleyball Women’s U-17 World Championships after defeating compatriots Joy Den- nis and Haley Hallgren in the fi nals. Plummer and Martin went 8-0 in the tournament, losing just three sets along the way. As a 6-4 opposite hitter, Plummer paced the U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team to the silver medal at the NORCECA Women’s U-18 Continental Championship. She scored 47 points in the tournament and was Best Spiker with a 42.5 kill percentage.


Josh Tuaniga Long Beach, Calif.


Will Bantle Pacifi c Palisades, Calif.


Will Bantle was part of USA Volleyball’s U-17 traveling team this summer and fi nished in ninth place at the FIVB Beach Volleyball U-17 World Championships with beach partner Robert Mullahey. The tandem fi nished Pool E with a 2-1 record before losing to the even- tual bronze medalists in the second round. Bantle played for Pacifi c Pali- sades 16 Nike in the 16 Open Division of the 2014 USA Vol-


leyball Boys’ Junior National Champi- onships. He also served as co-captain for his Loyola High School freshman team that fi nished 23-2 overall with both losses to the Loyola junior varsity.


Brenden Sander Huntington Beach, Calif.


Outside hitter Brenden Sander helped the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team to the bronze medal at the 2014 NORCECA Men’s U-21 Continental Championship in El Sal- vador. He fi nished the tournament ranked sixth in scoring with 64 points and was seventh in Best Spiker with a 47.2 kill per- centage. At the 2014 USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships, Sander helped Balboa Bay 18 Asics to the bronze medal and was named all-tournament. He has signed to play for BYU, following in his brother Taylor’s footsteps, who went on to win the MVP of the FIVB World League this past summer.


70 | VOLLEYBALLUSA • Digital Issue at usavolleyball.org/mag


Lauren Speckman San Jose, Calif.


Lauren Speckman was named the Best Setter at the NORCE- CA Women’s U-18 Continental Championship after helping the U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team earn the silver medal. She averaged 3.00 running sets per set as the U.S. Girls’ Youth converted 35.6 percent of its attacks for the tourna- ment. By fi nishing second, Team USA earned a spot into the 2015 FIVB Women’s U-18 World Championship. Speckman helped Vision 16 Gold to an 11th-place fi nish at the 2014 USA Vol- leyball Girls’ Junior National Championships in the 16 Open Division.


PHOTOS: (CLOCKWISE STARTING TOP LEFT): USAV, USAV, USAV, USAV, SANDER FAMILY, BANTLE FAMILY


Josh Tuaniga was the starting setter for the U.S. Boys’ Youth National Team that claimed gold at the NORCECA Men’s U-19 Continental Championship in Tulsa, Okla. At the conclusion of the tournament he was named the Best Server with a 0.83 ace average. Tuaniga held a tourna- ment-leading 3.17 running sets average that was matched by his teammate Micah Ma’a. During the 2014 USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships, Tuaniga helped The HBC 17 Black Smack team to the bronze medal and was named to the all-tournament team.


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