Kanas Earns Spot on U.S. Collegiate National Team

LUBBOCK, Texas – After a stellar outing at the U.S. Women's National Team Open Tryouts, freshman Brooke Kanas became the fourth Red Raider in program history to earn a spot on the U.S. Women's Collegiate National Team. The six-foot-two outside hitter will spend part of her summer training with the U.S. Collegiate National Team-Domestic program in Anaheim, Calif.

The squad will train June 23-29 at the American Sports Centers in Anaheim, the official host city for the U.S. Women's and Men's National Volleyball Teams. The program will hold a public Red-Blue scrimmage on June 28 in the vicinity of Anaheim (site and time TBA).

Kanas, a native of New Braunfels, Texas, is the youngest Red Raider to spend a summer with the U.S. Collegiate National Team. The other three Red Raider alums to compete on the national squad were Reyn Akiu (junior, 2017), Rachel Brummit (senior, 2014) and Breeann David (senior, 2014).

"I am so happy for Brooke and we are so proud to have her representing the Red Raiders with the Collegiate National Team this summer," head coach Tony Graystone exclaimed. "Brooke continues to train hard and get better every day. I am very excited for her to have this opportunity."

One of the top freshmen in the country, Kanas burst onto the scene and made an immediate impact in her first season for the scarlet and black. She was one of four freshmen in the league to receive All-Big 12 First or Second-Team honors and was one of six freshmen named to the All-Big 12 Rookie Team.

She paced the Red Raiders during Big 12 play with 202 kills (.251) and her efforts were rewarded with two Big 12 Rookie of the Week nods. Her first weekly award came after she led all Big 12 freshmen with 31 kills and a .356 hitting percentage as Tech downed No. 19 Baylor and topped West Virginia to open conference play. Her second weekly award was prompted by another 31-kill week when she secured 18 at West Virginia and 13 in a sweep of TCU.

Proving herself a force to be reckoned with, she ranked second on the team with a whopping 249 kills, third with 266.5 points and fourth with a .241 hitting percentage. Kanas posted 14 double-digit kill outings, including 13 during Big 12 play, in her inaugural season. She carried three of the Red Raiders' top-four offensive outings with four matches of 18 kills or more and had the team's highest kill total in a single match with 23 in Tech's victory over Kansas State on Oct. 3.

The Collegiate National Team-Anaheim coaches include Dan Fisher (University of Pittsburgh), Travis Hudson (Western Kentucky University), Kirsten Bernthal-Booth (Creighton University) and Melissa Wolter (University of West Florida).

Athletes were selected through the U.S. Women's National Team Open Tryouts held March 1-3 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. For all the latest information on the Texas Tech volleyball team, visit TexasTech.com or follow @TexasTechVB on Twitter and Instagram.

U.S. Collegiate National Team - Anaheim
Name (Position, School, Height)
Teana Adams-Kaonohi (S, Kansas State University, 6-1)
Preslie Anderson (M, California-Berkeley, 6-2)
Brynn Carlson (OH, Kansas State University, 6-4)
Madelyn Cole (S, Creighton University, 5-10)
Keeley Davis (OH, Creighton University, 6-0)
Anna Dixon (OH, Kansas State University, 6-2)
Meghan Donovan (S, University of Georgia, 6-3)
Samantha Drechsel (OH, University of Washington, 6-4)
Melissa Evans (OPP, North Carolina State University, 6-1)
Lauren Forte (M, California-Berkeley, 6-3)
Jasmine Gross (M, University of Southern California, 6-3)
Bailee Huizenga (OPP, California-Berkeley, 6-1)
Brooke Kanas (OPP, Texas Tech, 6-2)
Hana Lishman (L, Pepperdine University, 5-8)
Kayla Lund (OH, University of Pittsburgh, 6-0)
Elan McCall (OH, TCU, 6-0)
Kelsey Miller (L, University of Virginia, 5-10)
Blake Mohler (M, Purdue University, 6-2)
Gloria Mutiri (OPP, Kansas State University, 6-2)
Tyanna Omazic (M, University of Missouri, 6-2)
Regan Pittman (M, University of Minnesota, 6-5)
Ella Powell (S, University of Washington, 6-0)
Lauren Sanders (M, University of Washington, 6-4)
Emma Smith (L, California-Berkeley, 5-8)
Valerie Valerian (OH, University of North Texas, 6-1)
Rachel Whipple (L, University of Colorado, 5-7)
M'Kaela White (M, James Madison University, 6-4)
Roxanne Wiblin (OH, University of San Diego, 6-2)

Texas Tech University Athletics

Kanas Earns Spot on U.S. Collegiate National Team

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