UCF’s McKenna Melville and Anne-Marie Watson at Team USA Volleyball Tryouts

UCF Knights Volleyball’s own McKenna Melville and Anne-Marie Watson participated in USA Volleyball’s Women’s National Team Tryouts in Colorado Springs this week. They competed among more than 200 of the top college volleyball players in the U.S. before the national team’s coaching staff.

Joining them were one of UCF’s Associate Head Coaches, Brian Doyon, and the Knights’ Director of Volleyball Operations, T.J. Read.

The three-day tryouts wrapped up Sunday. UCF head coach Todd Dagenais has been involved with the USA Volleyball Women’s National Team since before his tenure at UCF, when he was an assistant coach at USC.

Among the familiar names from The American also there were Jordan Thompson of Cincinnati, Taylor Horsfall and Callie Cook of Tulsa, Janeice Jeffries and Shelby Martin of ECU, Corinne Graham of Memphis, and Averi Salvador of Temple.

Team USA’s head coach is the legendary Karch Kiraly, who is arguably the greatest beach volleyball player of all time.

All players are competing for spots on one (or both) of two teams, the USA Women’s National Team and the USA National Collegiate Team. Selections for both squads will take place later in the spring.

Melville was the AAC’s Rookie of the Year last year and led UCF in most major offensive categories, with Watson right behind her. Watson also compiled a program single-game record 12 block assists against Cincinnati, playing opposite Jordan Thompson.