Junior volleyball players Lauren Ford and Jewell Dobson will represent Lipscomb University in the tryouts for the United States Volleyball Team, an honor given to only two other athletes in school history.
The others, Jake Pease and Alex Kelly, played together from the 2007-08 season to the 2010-11 season.
“I grew up looking up to Alex Kelly and Jake Pease, who have been in this position before,” outside hitter Lauren Ford said. “I would look up to [Pease and Kelly], hoping to be as good as them.”
“They’re the type of players who have left a legacy at Lipscomb, and to be in the same position they have been in says a lot,” middle blocker Jewell Dobson said. “It just says a lot about our success and the success that the program has had.”
The tryouts begin Feb. 21 and go until Feb. 23 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Volleyball head coach Brandon Rosenthal said that the difference between Pease and Kelly and Dobson and Ford is that the girls this year are going together. In the past, Pease and Kelly traveled separately to the tryouts. This time around, Dobson and Ford will travel together, although Rosenthal doesn’t know if they’ll room together.
“I just want them to go and have a great time and just do their best,” Rosenthal said.
Rosenthal also said that the only difference the girls will see at the tryouts is the increase in altitude. He mentioned that the ball flies through the air a bit differently, but it will not make a huge difference.
The coach, who just finished his eleventh season, also explained that he was excited to tell the two of them the news that they would travel to Colorado Springs. He said that have the opportunity to deliver the news was fun, and he feels like a “proud parent.”
“I couldn’t be more proud of these two and all that they represent, not only for themselves, but for the team,” Rosenthal said.
Ford also expressed her gratitude for the chance to participate in the tryouts.
“To have this honor, to go up and play with the best players in the nation now, is just an incredible honor,” Ford said.
In terms of expectations, Rosenthal, Ford and Dobson all agree that there is a “whatever happens, happens” type attitude. There aren’t a lot of expectations, one reason being that neither player knows what to expect.
“It’s kind of one of those things where you’re given an opportunity, and you just dive in, not knowing what to expect,” Dobson said.
Ford agreed that she also did not know what to expect from the opportunity, but she said that she is “blessed to have this experience.”
“As I’ve told them individually, they haven’t been given this,” Rosenthal said. “They’ve earned this.”
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics