UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Former Penn State All-Americans Simone Lee-Wank and Micha Hancock were again on the travel roster for the United States team during the second week of the Volleyball Nations League. The pair helped the team go 4-0 in its matches in Pasig City, Philippines as USA improved to 7-1 overall.
USA’s four wins came over Dominican Republic (3-0), Czechia (3-0), Italy (3-0), and Serbia (3-1). Italy entered the event as the top-ranked team in the world, while USA is ranked fourth.
Lee-Wank, a two-time All-American and one-time National Champion for Penn State from 2014-17, played a key role in the huge win over Italy, finishing with eight kills and five digs in the sweep. She has contributed eight or more kills three times through the first two weeks of play, including 22 kills in a win over France during the opening week.
Hancock, a three-time All-American and two-time National Champion for the Nittany Lions from 2011-14, saw time in the wins over Italy and Dominican Republic and has now played in five of the team’s eight matches overall. The setter has a storied history with USA Volleyball as she helped the team win its first-ever Olympic gold medal in Tokyo in 2021.
USA heads to Osaka, Japan for the third week of competition in the VNL. There they will play Thailand (July 8), Poland (July 9), Türkiye (July 10), and Brazil (July 11).