Ouachita’s Bullard bound for Brazil with Team USA
Ouachita Sports
Kyle Parris, Sports Information Director
ARKADELPHIA – Ron Smith of USA Sports Tours & Events announced tour schedule, teams and coaches for the upcoming USA D-2 Volleyball Teams – Brazil Tour 2017. Among those competing will be Ouachita Tiger, Kori Bullard. The junior from Hot Springs, Ark. and 2017 All-GAC First Team selection was hand-selected from some of the best players in NCAA Division II to compete against some of the top talent in Brazil.
The USA D-2 Volleyball Teams are invited NCAA Division II women’s players from across the country. These two teams (RED TEAM & BLACK TEAM) are comprised of players recognized as All Americans, All Region and All Conference.
“It was an honor to be chosen,” Bullard said. “I was actually in Sociology class when they called me. I asked Dr. Kelly if I could step outside to take the call. She asked who it was and I said I thought it was Team USA. She told me to step out and answer it immediately.”
“I’m really excited to get there and start practicing. I’m a little nervous knowing I’ll be on the court with unfamiliar teammates, but to be included with this many talented players is such an honor. I can’t wait to get started. Getting to play against Team Brazil is such a great honor.”
The RED TEAM is made up of 10 players representing seven different colleges and universities and come from six different home states.
The BLACK TEAM is made up of 10 players representing eight different colleges and universities and come from seven different home states and two countries. These teams truly come from almost every part of the USA and Australia.
“This is an outstanding group of young women.” Ron Smith said. “Many of the players on this year’s USA D-2 / Brazil Tour team had great individual seasons and led their teams into post season play.” “This tour is designed to expose players to a great volleyball experience while providing a once in a lifetime opportunity for educational, cultural and social growth.”
The USA D-2 Volleyball tour will run from May 29 through June 7. The teams will begin with orientation in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, May 29 before the team departs for Sao Paulo, Brazil that evening. The teams will practice on May 30 in the city of Jundiai, before matches on May 31 and June 1 versus one professional team and one club team. The teams will then travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Tuesday, June 2. In Rio, the teams will be a part of an “International Challenge” on Sunday, June 4. The “International Challenge” will be two matches versus club teams from the city of Rio de Janeiro. The two USA D-2 Volleyball teams will be competing against top U22, Adult and professional club teams from the States of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro on this tour.
While in Brazil the teams will experience educational, cultural and social aspects of Brazilian life through city, school and sports club visits. While in Rio, the team will be staying on the famous Copacabana Beach and touring the Christ the Redeemer Statue and Sugar Loaf Mountain, two of the most recognizable landmarks in the world.
USA D-2 Volleyball Teams’ Rosters
USA D-2 RED Volleyball Team
Maggie Billingsley Notre Dame de Namur University
Lexie Bradley University of North Alabama
Elizabeth Dowd Shorter University
MacKenzie Edwards Colorado Mesa University
Miranda Foster Northwest Missouri State University
Mackenzie Puckett University of Nebraska-Kearney
Briana Sandifer University of West Alabama
Lindsey Smith University of Nebraska-Kearney
Tara Ziegelbein University of Nebraska-Kearney
USA D-2 RED Volleyball Coach
Head Volleyball Coach Stephanie Radecki University of North Alabama
Assistant Coach Jennifer McCall University of North Alabama
Assistant Coach Haley Marett University of North Alabama
USA D-2 BLACK Volleyball Team
Sam Blasko Nova Southeastern University
Erin Braun University of Alaska-Anchorage
Kori Bullard Ouachita Baptist University
Bri Civiero Rollins College
Morgan Hooe University of Alaska-Anchorage
Katrina Janssen Caldwell University
Shannon McDonough Rollins College
Allison Olley University of Minnesota-Duluth
Cathy Scaniffe King University
Kaitlyn Sibson Eckerd College
USA D-2 BLACK Volleyball Coach
Head Volleyball Coach Jennifer King Nova Southeastern University