Beason Named to U.S. U23 National Training Team
May 19, 2025 / NU Athletics
Photo Credit: NU Athletic Communications
Former Nebraska volleyball All-American Merritt Beason has been selected to train with the USA Volleyball Women's U23 National Team for the NORCECA U23 Pan American Cup, set for July 25-Aug. 2 in Leon, Mexico.
Beason will be one of 18 athletes taking part in a training block at the National Team Training Center in Anaheim, Calif., from July 18-25. From that pool, 12 athletes will be chosen to represent the United States in Mexico.
Beason's previous experience with the U.S. National Team includes a silver medal at the 2024 Pan Am Cup Final Six with the U.S. Women's National Team, as well as a gold medal and MVP honors at the 2022 Pan Am Cup with the Women's U1 National Team.
Beason finished her Husker career in 2024 with All-Big Ten First Team honors for the second year in a row. She also picked up her third AVCA All-Region honor, averaging 2.78 kills per set while helping NU reach the NCAA Semifinals. Beason was an AVCA All-America First Team selection in 2023 and earned Academic All-America honors following her senior season.
Former Husker Kayla Banwarth, who is Beason's professional coach for the Atlanta Vibe and was recently named PVF Coach of the Year, will serve as an assistant coach.
USA Volleyball Women's U23 Roster
Name, (Pos., Height, Hometown, College/Pro, Region)
Merritt Beason (OPP, 6-3, 2003, Gardendale, Ala., Pro Volleyball Federation, Southern)
Lauren Briseño (L, 5-7, 2003, San Antonio, Texas, Baylor Univ., Lone Star)
Brooke Bultema (MB, 2004, Cincinnati, Ohio, Univ. of Kentucky, Ohio Valley)
Averi Carlson (S, 5-11, 2003, Lucas, Texas, SMU, North Texas)
Chloe Chicoine (OH, 5-10, 2004, Lafayette, Ind., Univ. of Louisville, Hoosier)
Raven Colvin (MB, 6-1, 2003, Indianapolis, Ind., Pro Volleyball Federation, Hoosier)
Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (MB, 6-2, 2004, Flower Mound, Texas, Texas A&M, North Texas)
Cara Cresse (MB, 6-6, 2003, Ft. Wayne, Ind., Univ. of Louisville, Hoosier)
Eva Hudson (OH, 6-1, 2004, Ft. Wayne, Ind., Univ. of Kentucky, Hoosier)
Devin Kahahawai (OPP, 6-4, 2004, Kailua, Hawaii, Univ. of Texas, Aloha)
Caroline Kerr (S, 5-11, 2004, Champaign, Ill., Univ. of Tennessee, Great Lakes)
Emmy Klika (L, 5-7, 2003, Novelty, Ohio, Pro Volleyball Federation, Ohio Valley)
Ava Martin (OH, 6-1, 2004, Overland Park, Kan., Creighton Univ., Heart of America)
Jurnee Robinson (OPP/OH, 6-1, 2004, Simpsonville, S.C., LSU, Palmetto)
Lauren Rumel (OH, 6-2, 2003, Tucson, Ariz., Oregon State Univ., Arizona)
Marianna Singletary (MB, 6-4, 2004, Charleston, S.C., N/A, Southern)
Norah Sis (OH, 6-2, 2003, Papillion, Neb., Pro Volleyball Federation, Great Plains)
Ella Swindle (S, 6-2, 2004, Columbia, Mo., Univ. of Texas, Heart of America)
Coaches
Head Coach: Marie Zidek (DePaul)
Assistant Coach: Kayla Banwarth (PVF, Olympian)
Assistant Coach: Danielle Scott (LOVB, Olympian)
Performance Analyst: Matthew Andrews (Michigan)
ATC: Cherryl Bueno (Coast to Coast AthletiCare)
Team Lead: Taylor Marten (Ozark Juniors)
Name, (Pos., Height, Hometown, College/Pro, Region)
Merritt Beason (OPP, 6-3, 2003, Gardendale, Ala., Pro Volleyball Federation, Southern)
Lauren Briseño (L, 5-7, 2003, San Antonio, Texas, Baylor Univ., Lone Star)
Brooke Bultema (MB, 2004, Cincinnati, Ohio, Univ. of Kentucky, Ohio Valley)
Averi Carlson (S, 5-11, 2003, Lucas, Texas, SMU, North Texas)
Chloe Chicoine (OH, 5-10, 2004, Lafayette, Ind., Univ. of Louisville, Hoosier)
Raven Colvin (MB, 6-1, 2003, Indianapolis, Ind., Pro Volleyball Federation, Hoosier)
Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (MB, 6-2, 2004, Flower Mound, Texas, Texas A&M, North Texas)
Cara Cresse (MB, 6-6, 2003, Ft. Wayne, Ind., Univ. of Louisville, Hoosier)
Eva Hudson (OH, 6-1, 2004, Ft. Wayne, Ind., Univ. of Kentucky, Hoosier)
Devin Kahahawai (OPP, 6-4, 2004, Kailua, Hawaii, Univ. of Texas, Aloha)
Caroline Kerr (S, 5-11, 2004, Champaign, Ill., Univ. of Tennessee, Great Lakes)
Emmy Klika (L, 5-7, 2003, Novelty, Ohio, Pro Volleyball Federation, Ohio Valley)
Ava Martin (OH, 6-1, 2004, Overland Park, Kan., Creighton Univ., Heart of America)
Jurnee Robinson (OPP/OH, 6-1, 2004, Simpsonville, S.C., LSU, Palmetto)
Lauren Rumel (OH, 6-2, 2003, Tucson, Ariz., Oregon State Univ., Arizona)
Marianna Singletary (MB, 6-4, 2004, Charleston, S.C., N/A, Southern)
Norah Sis (OH, 6-2, 2003, Papillion, Neb., Pro Volleyball Federation, Great Plains)
Ella Swindle (S, 6-2, 2004, Columbia, Mo., Univ. of Texas, Heart of America)
Coaches
Head Coach: Marie Zidek (DePaul)
Assistant Coach: Kayla Banwarth (PVF, Olympian)
Assistant Coach: Danielle Scott (LOVB, Olympian)
Performance Analyst: Matthew Andrews (Michigan)
ATC: Cherryl Bueno (Coast to Coast AthletiCare)
Team Lead: Taylor Marten (Ozark Juniors)