COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Four Clemson volleyball players: Katie Hurta, Mia McGrath, Kitty Sandt and Kennedy Wagner, are making the journey to the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., for the USA Volleyball Women’s National Team Open Program (WNTOP). The WNTOP runs from Feb. 23-25.
The WNTOP is used for consideration for selection to both the U.S. Women’s National Team and the U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team (WCNT). The WNTOP and WCNT allow the Women’s National Team staff to observe the highest potential athletes with and against one another. The program is open to current and recently graduated college-age athletes born in the years 1999-2005.
“The USAV WNT Open Program is a wonderful opportunity for members of our program to learn, grow and challenge themselves in an intensive training environment,” said Clemson Head Coach Jackie Simpson Kirr. “I am grateful that Clemson Athletics continues to be supportive of our student-athletes pursing their dreams and goals at the highest level of our sport through this opportunity.”
All-four Tigers are heading to WNT Open Program in Colorado for the first time during their careers at Clemson. McGrath, who will enter her junior season in the fall, has appeared in 231 sets for the Tigers and averages 2.02 points per set and 1.90 digs per set on her career while also being an ACC All-Freshman selection in 2022. Hurta joined the Tigers in the spring of 2023 and maintained a 2.07 kills per set and 2.25 points per set mark in her first season with Clemson.
Wagner led the Tigers during the 2023 season with 229 kills (2.34 per set) and tallied 291 points (2.97). The Valparaiso, Ind. native hit double-digit kills in 11 matches last season and led the team with 39 aces. Rounding out the group heading to Colorado Springs is freshman Sandt. The Western Springs, Ill. native redshirt the 2023 fall season after helping Nazareth Academy to a state title in 2021.
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