July 12, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Former Penn State women's volleyball student-athletes Christa Dietzen (Harmotto) and Alisha Glass have been selected to the United States Olympic Women's Volleyball team, as announced by USA Volleyball this morning. Additionally, Megan Easy (Hodge) and Nicole Fawcett were selected as alternates to the team.
All four Nittany Lions have previously earned spots either on the roster or as alternates at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Dietzen and Easy were both members of the roster, while Glass and Fawcett served as alternates on the 2012 roster. Both Deitzen and Easy became Penn State women's volleyball's first Olympic medalists, as the 2012 squad earned silver. Including this year, Penn State has had at least four Nittany Lions represented either on the 12-person team or as alternates in each of the last two consecutive Olympic quads.
Fawcett, Dietzen, Glass and Easy all helped Penn State women's volleyball to back-to-back NCAA national championships in 2007-08. Glass and Easy also earned a third consecutive title in 2009."I am thrilled for the athletes who have been selected because it is such a demanding an arduous process," head coach Russ Rose said. "I am excited for Alisha [Glass] who was an alternate in 2012 and Christa [Dietzen], who has made the team again."
All four earned numerous honors during their careers in the Blue and White, with each Nittany Lion earning AVCA All-America honors in at least three seasons. Fawcett and Hodge earned back-to-back AVCA National Player of the Year honors in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
This year's Olympic roster features three outside hitters, three middles, three setters, two opposites and one libero. Penn State is one of just two programs with more than one former student-athlete represented on the roster."I think all of the players selected to the US women's team had great collegiate careers," Rose said. "The fact that all four of the players were involved with multiple Penn State national championships is an indication that they had great talent at an early age and people in the Penn state family were able to enjoy and embrace it.
Ranked No. 1 in the world by the FIVB, the U.S. Women have won six of their last eight tournaments dating back to the 2014 FIVB World Championship. Most recently, Team USA claimed the 2016 NORCECA Olympic Qualification Tournament, prior to earning silver at the FIVB World Grant Prix last weekend.
The top four teams in the two Olympic Games pools advance to the quarterfinals on Aug. 16. The top seed in each pool will face the fourth seed in crossover competition, while a drawing of lots will determine crossover quarterfinal opponents for the second- and third-place teams in both pools. The winners of the quarterfinal matches advance to the semifinal medal round Monday, Aug. 18. The tournament concludes on Aug. 20 with the gold- and bronze-medal matches.Heading into Rio, Team USA is set to open Pool B Saturday, Aug. 6 against NORCECA rival Puerto Rico, followed by the Netherlands Monday, Aug. 8. The United States will also meet Serbia, Italy and China in Pool B play.
The U.S. Women, who have won silver in the past two Olympic Games and the bronze at the 1992 Olympic Games, have earned Olympic qualification in 10 of 12 Olympics since the sport's introduction to the schedule in 1964.
"It's a lot of hard work and a great commitment that all of the players have had to make to the program. I am wishing USA Volleyball all the best," Rose said.
To view the complete 2016 U.S. Olympic Women's Volleyball Roster, please click here.