WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Middle blocker Danielle Cuttino will represent the Boilermakers and the United States as a member of the U.S. Junior National team, which will compete at the Global Challenge, July 13-16 in Pula, Croatia.
This is Cuttino's second straight season on the Junior National team as she was a member of the 2014 squad which competed at the NORCECA Women's U-20 Championships in Guatemala last summer. She also was a part of the U.S. Youth National team which finished second at the under-18 FIVB World Championships in 2013.
Cuttino was a member of the All-Big Ten Freshman Team in 2014 after averaging 1.71 kills, hitting .291 and putting up a team-best 1.01 blocks per set in 26 matches. During conference play, the Indianapolis, Ind., native posted a team-leading 1.18 blocks per set (ranking 11th among Big Ten players), while adding 1.85 kills per set and hitting at a .293 clip. Cuttino led Purdue in blocks 10 times and kills once, while posting double-digit putdowns five times and managing five or more stuffs in eight matches. The rookie hit at a .300 or better clip 13 times, including .400 or better nine times and .500-plus on seven occasions.
Cuttino is one of three middle blockers returning from the 2014 squad which posted a 22-10 record and finished fifth in the Big Ten.
In addition to the Global Challenge, the WJNT will train and play matches from July 4-12 in Trieste, Italy and Maribor, Slovenia. The squad has scheduled matches against the senior national teams for Croatia and Israel prior to competition in the Global Challenge. The U.S. will also play their junior national team counterparts from Italy, Slovenia and Croatia, as well as Hungary's U22 team. Other matches are being discussed while training and competing in Europe.
The U.S. qualified to participate in the 2015 FIVB Women's Junior World Championship by winning gold at last year's NORCECA Women's U20 Continental Championship. However, this year's World Championship event changed locations from Cyprus to Puerto Rico, along with the dates of the competition from early July to Sept. 9-21. With the lack of available athletes during September due to academic concerns and the collegiate and prep volleyball seasons, USA Volleyball opted to pull out of the World Championship and compete in the Global Challenge.
Cuttino's selection makes her the fourth Purdue player that will be playing on a U.S. affiliated team this summer alongside setter/hitter Ashley Evans, who will be part of the U.S. Collegiate National team - China Tour and libero Amanda Neill and outside hitter Azariah Stahl, who will both compete as part of the U.S. Collegiate National program in New Orleans.
Outside hitter Annie Drews also will be playing abroad as a member of the inaugural Big Ten Foreign Tour team, which is playing in Slovenia, Croatia and Italy in June.
More details on the U.S. Junior National team are here.
The complete U.S. Junior National team roster is below.
Name (Position, Height, Hometown, College/High School, Youth Club, Region)
Orie Agbaji (MB, 6-3, Kansas City, Mo.; Oak Park High School, Club North, Club North)
Rhamat Alhassan (MB, 6-4, Glenarden, Md.; Florida, Metro American, Chesapeake Region)
Adora Anae (OH, 6-1, Laie, Hawaii; Utah, Imi Ike, Aloha)
Danielle Cuttino (MB, 6-4, Indianapolis, Ind.; Purdue, Circle City, Hoosier)
Audriana Fitzmorris (OPP, 6-4, Overland Park, Kan.; St. James Academy, Invasion VBC, Heart of America)
Lauryn Gillis (OH, 6-1, New Castle, Ind., Wisconsin; Munciana, Hoosier)
Hayley Hodson (OH, 6-2, Newport Beach, Calif.; Stanford, Tstreet, Southern California)
Caroline Knop (L, 5-8, Pasadena, Calif.; Michigan, San Gabriel Elite, Southern California)
Jordyn Poulter (S, 6-0, Aurora, Colo.; Illinois, Front Range, Rocky Mountain)
Molly Sauer (L, 5-7, Louisville, Ky.; Louisville, KIVA, Pioneer)
Carli Snyder (OH, 6-0, Macomb, Mich.; Florida, Michigan Elite, Lakeshore)
Taylor Tashima (S, 6-0, Wilmette, Ill.; Northwestern, Wildcat Juniors, Great Lakes)
Head Coach: Tom Hogan (Assoc. Head Coach - Denver)
Assistant Coaches: Erin Virtue (Assistant Coach - Michigan); Stacy Sykora (Morehead State)
Technical Coordinator: Jared Goldberg
Team Leader: Denise Sheldon
Alternates
Kaz Brown (MB, 6-4, Waterloo, Iowa; Kentucky, Six Pack, Iowa)
Madison Duello (OH, 6-5, Liberty, Mo.; Wisconsin, KC Power, Heart of America)