COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Volleyball has announced that Samford junior libero Chelsi Carter will participate in open tryouts for the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team and the U.S. Collegiate National Teams (formerly the U.S. Women's Senior A2 Teams) on Feb. 21-23, 2014, in Sports Center II at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC) in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Carter will be one of 63 libero/defensive specialists out of a pool of 248 athletes competing for positions on this year's national teams.

This will mark the third time a Bulldog has attended the open tryouts with Elizabeth Neisler and Katie Murphy both attending three years ago.

Head Coach Dex Schroeder believes this will serve as a great opportunity for Carter to gain experience against some of the top athletes across the country and that she has the tools to open a few eyes out in Colorado Springs.

"She will have one of the heaviest serves at the camp," Schroeder said. "She also has one of the highest volleyball IQ's I have ever coached!"

A native of Meridianville, Ala. Carter had an outstanding 2013 season for the Bulldogs as she tallied 564 digs with only 41 receiving errors during the spectacular run that Samford made at the 2013 SoCon Championship.

Carter's physical tools on the offensive side are impressive but her competitive drive to constantly improve on the defensive side is where she excels according to coach Schroeder.

"Chelsi wears my shoulder out!" Schroeder exclaimed. "For three years I cannot hit enough balls at her and she wants more heat and more heat every time!" 

During the 2013 season Carter was named SoCon Libero of the Year and was named to the SoCon All-Tournament Team, the 2013 Lipscomb Invitational All-Tournament Team and the 2013 UAB/Samford Volleyball Challenge All-Tournament Team.

For anyone wanting to watch Carter's tryout a live stream of the three-day event can be found here with coverage beging on Feb. 21, at 3 p.m.

USA VOLLEY BALL OPEN TRYOUTS LIVE STREAM

This tryout is open to current college-age athletes and older born in the years 1986-1996, and high school athletes born in 1996 or earlier.

U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team Tryout Staff

Administration: Karch Kiraly (Head Coach), Jamie Morrison (Assistant Coach), Tom Black (Assistant Coach), Jill Wosmek (Trainer), Jenna Ashton (Trainer), Tom Pingel, Heath Hoke, Tim Ambruso, Monica Sedillo, Denise Sheldon, Bill Kauffman, Matt Podschweit, Denise Corlett, Nicki Holmes, JayVanWark, Marc Swindle

Evaluators: Lindsey Devine, Ray Gooden, Mike Hebert, Heath Hoke, Tim Kelly, Jolene Nagel, Mark Rosen, Brandon Rosenthal, Denise Sheldon, Jim Stone, Marc Swindle, Mary Wise

Court Coaches: Keith Barnett, Chuck Crawford, Brittany Dildine, Brian Doyon, Billy Ebel, Bob Evans, Eduardo Fiallos, Jeff Grove, Linda Hampton, Jenny Hazelwood, Jill Kramer, Michael Obeso, Shelly Small, Lauren Steinbrecher, Michael Terrill, Russ Walker

DataVolley, Technical Coordinators, Court Coaches: Joe Trinsey (Technical Coordinator), David Dantes, Peter Forman, Jared Goldberg, Jared Hazel, Nicki Holmes, Nate Ngo, Jesse Tupac, Jay Van Vark