Incoming senior volleyball player Kayla Ostrom begins training and competing this week for the 2016 U.S. Collegiate National Team – Indianapolis program June 21-30 in Indianapolis.
In February, Ostrom attended the USAV Women’s National Team Open Tryout in Colorado Springs at the Olympic Training Center and made the team — one of only 36 women chosen.
The program will be divided into three teams, each consisting of 12-players. Those teams, chosen during training, will compete in a round-robin tournament June 26-29 at the USA Volleyball Girl’s National Championships. It will serve as a second tryout for the USA National Team.
This is the same tryout that Lipscomb volleyball alumni Jewell Dobson and Lauren Ford attended two years before.
Ostrom was presented with the opportunity over winter break by head coach Brandon Rosenthal.
“I was on the fence about going, but after talking with many people and praying for direction, I decided to go. I am so thankful I did,” Ostrom said.
Ostrom flew out to Denver for the tryout with Associate Head Coach Billy Ebel, who was working the tryout. After they landed, they hopped in a car and drove to Colorado Springs for the first session the same afternoon.
“Playing with girls from all over the country was way more fun than I expected. There was so much positive energy in the gym. Everyone brought their best effort,” Ostrom said.
She said the drills were sometimes crazy; setting 6’5’’middles was a little tricky at first, but she said that, overall, competing in the drills was freeing and exhilarating.
She added that she approached the weekend with the mindset that she was going to have fun and play freely with no pressure. In the end, she said she was extremely thankful how it played out.
“The most meaningful part of the weekend for me was how it slowly started to reawaken my love for competitive volleyball again,” Ostrom said.
Ostrom said she left the weekend content and at peace whether or not she would make a team.
“I had a feeling I might have [made a team]. A month after the tryout when I found out I made a team, I wasn’t too surprised. I’m excited for this opportunity for continual growth, and for the interaction I’ll have with players and coaches from all over the country,” Ostrom said.
Ostrom will play with players from top 10 schools like Nebraska, Florida, Texas and Wisconsin.
Finishing out her senior season this past year at Lipscomb, Ostrom led the A-Sun in total assists (1,446) and in assists per set (12.05).
Ostrom was also named A-Sun First Team All-Conference, as well as being a member of the A-Sun All-Tournament Team. She was designated as the A-Sun Scholar-Athlete for volleyball and the 2015 A-Sun Setter of the Year.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics
Additional reporting by Lipscomb Athletics