Four Tigers Headed to 2025 USA Volleyball Women’s National Team Open Program
2/19/2025 11:18:00 AM | Volleyball
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Four Tigers will represent University of Missouri volleyball at the 2025 USA Volleyball Women's National Team Open Program Feb. 21-23 at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Libero Maya Sands, setter Marina Crownover, right side hitter/middle blocker Kimani Johnson and outside hitter Caylen Alexander will represent Missouri at this week's USA Volleyball tryout.
Sands, Crownover, Johnson and Alexander will each head to their second-straight Women's National Team Open Program tryout this week.
The tryouts will be streamed live on BallerTV ($).
Maya Sands led the Missouri defense in her junior season this past fall with 535 digs (4.53 digs per set, first in the SEC). Sands was named the SEC Libero of the Year for the second-straight season along with being tabbed a 2024 AVCA All-American, 2024 AVCA Central All-Region selection and 2024 All-SEC First Team member.
Sands, a native of Rock Falls, Illinois, Sands, eclipsed the double-digit dig mark in all but one contest this season. Her 535 digs this campaign rank sixth all-time for a single season at Mizzou.
She compiled a career-best matching 30 digs twice in 2024, against Mississippi State (Oct. 20) and at Arkansas (Oct. 25).
Marina Crownover tallied a career-high 1,139 assists (10.85 assists per set) during her redshirt sophomore season and first season with the Tigers.
Crownover was named to the 2024 All-SEC Second Team and 2024 AVCA Central All-Region. She also received multiple SEC Setter of the Week honors (Sept. 16, Oct. 14, Oct. 28) over the 2024 campaign.
A native of Austin, Texas, Crownover notched a career best 61 assists and four aces at Arkansas (Oct. 25). She surpassed 1,000 career assists in 2024 and totaled sixteen 40-plus assist matches in 2024.
Kimani Johnson redshirted during the 2024 season.
A native of Southfield, Michigan, Johnson tallied 22 kills over her sophomore season for Mizzou in 2023. She notched seven kills in her Tigers debut against Central Arkansas (Aug. 26, 2023).
Caylen Alexander, a Hawaii transfer, compiled 1,225 kills with 643 digs, 133 total blocks and 88 aces over three seasons for the Rainbow Warriors.
Alexander, a native of Alpharetta, Georgia, was named the 2024 Big West Player of the Year and a 2024 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention in her junior year. She led the NCAA Division I with 611 total kills and ranked fifth in the nation with 5.09 kills per set.
About the U.S. Women's National Team Open Program
The WNT Open Program is used for consideration for selection to both the U.S. Women's National Team and the U.S. Women's Collegiate National Team.
In 2025, members of the U.S. Women's National Team will compete in the following events: Volleyball Nations League, Pan American Cup and NORCECA Final Six.
The 2025 age-group national teams include Women's U21 (athletes born 2005 and younger) and Girls U19 (athletes born in 2007 and younger) competing in their respective Pan American Cups and FIVB World Championships.
For the first time, a Women's U23 National Team will be organized. That team will be composed of athletes born in 2003 or younger that will train and compete at an international event in lieu of the Women's Collegiate National Team.
Watch the action LIVE on BallerTV ($).
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