Emily Hill and Blossom Sato will head to Colorado Springs, Colo., for the 2017 USA Volleyball Open Tryouts this weekend.
Photo by: HailState.com
Hill, Sato Head West For USA Volleyball National Team Tryouts
March 02, 2017 | Volleyball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Two of the best in the Maroon and White will look to add the Red, White and Blue to their wardrobe, as Mississippi State volleyball's Emily Hill and Blossom Sato head to Colorado Springs, Colo., for the 2017 U.S. Women's National Team Open Tryouts.
Hill and Sato will join a total of 240 athletes from 84 colleges and 10 high schools who will compete for spots on the U.S. Women's National Team and the U.S. Collegiate National Team program. The tryouts will be held from March 3-5 and will be directed by U.S. Women's National Team head coach Karch Kiraly.
"I am very proud of these two for being a part of this process and for being amazing representatives of Mississippi State University," MSU head coach David McFatrich said. "They are the epitome of what Bulldog Volleyball truly is and it's an amazing accomplishment to have two of our own representing the Maroon and White in Colorado Springs and competing for a chance to play on the biggest stage in the world."
Hill and Sato were key figures in MSU's 2016 campaign that saw the Bulldogs light up the record books and have the most dominant home season in program history. State captured 11 wins within the friendly confines of The Griss, besting the previous record of 10 set in 2006 and 2015.
The duo was also crucial in MSU having one of its best offensive seasons in school history. State finished with 1,649 kills, which is fourth in school history, while tallying a .214 clip that marked the first .200-plus season since 2011 and the highest since hitting .250 in 2006.
Hill's 382 kills were a major player in the Maroon and White's 2016 success, as the freshman phenom put together one of the best rookie campaigns in school history. She finished second in the SEC in kills amongst freshmen and tallied the third-most kills by a Bulldog freshman in history. The Denton, Texas, native also cracked the Top 10 for blocks by a freshman with 57.
"I am super excited to have the opportunity to train and play with some of the best players in the country," Hill said. "Just being able to go to the tryout is an honor. I can't wait to get up there and enjoy the entire experience."
With Sato leading the way, MSU's setting game totaled 1,543 assists, third-most in school history and the highest total since recording 1,594 in 1997. Sato's 968 assists bested her 2016 total and gave her 1,840 for her career, which holds strong at seventh in the MSU record books.
"I am really excited and it's an honor to go out there and compete with some of the best players in the game," Sato said. "I cannot wait to get there and get this weekend going. It is going to be an amazing experience and I am thankful that I get this opportunity."
Sato is also no stranger to the USA Volleyball world. Her mother, Liane, was a member of the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team in 1988 and 1992, when the team captured the bronze medal.
Her uncle, Eric Sato, was a member of the 1988 U.S. Men's National Team that claimed gold and the 1992 squad that earned the bronze medal. Another one of her uncles, Gary Sato, served at the United State's head coach for the 1985 FIVB World Cup gold medal finished and served as an assistant for the U.S. Men's National Team from 1984-1988, in 1992, and from 2009-12.
Fans can follow along with the tryouts with USA Volleyball's live steam, which will begin Friday, March 3 at 3 p.m. CT. Along with the live stream, fans can follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching for "USAVolleyball" and searching the hashtag "#USAVTryout".
For more on Mississippi State volleyball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateVB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
Hill and Sato will join a total of 240 athletes from 84 colleges and 10 high schools who will compete for spots on the U.S. Women's National Team and the U.S. Collegiate National Team program. The tryouts will be held from March 3-5 and will be directed by U.S. Women's National Team head coach Karch Kiraly.
"I am very proud of these two for being a part of this process and for being amazing representatives of Mississippi State University," MSU head coach David McFatrich said. "They are the epitome of what Bulldog Volleyball truly is and it's an amazing accomplishment to have two of our own representing the Maroon and White in Colorado Springs and competing for a chance to play on the biggest stage in the world."
Hill and Sato were key figures in MSU's 2016 campaign that saw the Bulldogs light up the record books and have the most dominant home season in program history. State captured 11 wins within the friendly confines of The Griss, besting the previous record of 10 set in 2006 and 2015.
The duo was also crucial in MSU having one of its best offensive seasons in school history. State finished with 1,649 kills, which is fourth in school history, while tallying a .214 clip that marked the first .200-plus season since 2011 and the highest since hitting .250 in 2006.
Hill's 382 kills were a major player in the Maroon and White's 2016 success, as the freshman phenom put together one of the best rookie campaigns in school history. She finished second in the SEC in kills amongst freshmen and tallied the third-most kills by a Bulldog freshman in history. The Denton, Texas, native also cracked the Top 10 for blocks by a freshman with 57.
"I am super excited to have the opportunity to train and play with some of the best players in the country," Hill said. "Just being able to go to the tryout is an honor. I can't wait to get up there and enjoy the entire experience."
With Sato leading the way, MSU's setting game totaled 1,543 assists, third-most in school history and the highest total since recording 1,594 in 1997. Sato's 968 assists bested her 2016 total and gave her 1,840 for her career, which holds strong at seventh in the MSU record books.
"I am really excited and it's an honor to go out there and compete with some of the best players in the game," Sato said. "I cannot wait to get there and get this weekend going. It is going to be an amazing experience and I am thankful that I get this opportunity."
Sato is also no stranger to the USA Volleyball world. Her mother, Liane, was a member of the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team in 1988 and 1992, when the team captured the bronze medal.
Her uncle, Eric Sato, was a member of the 1988 U.S. Men's National Team that claimed gold and the 1992 squad that earned the bronze medal. Another one of her uncles, Gary Sato, served at the United State's head coach for the 1985 FIVB World Cup gold medal finished and served as an assistant for the U.S. Men's National Team from 1984-1988, in 1992, and from 2009-12.
Fans can follow along with the tryouts with USA Volleyball's live steam, which will begin Friday, March 3 at 3 p.m. CT. Along with the live stream, fans can follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching for "USAVolleyball" and searching the hashtag "#USAVTryout".
For more on Mississippi State volleyball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateVB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
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