Simpson Named To Pan American Cup Team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Former Colorado standout Taylor Simpson has been selected to the USA Volleyball Women's National Team that will compete at the 2016 Pan American Cup, July 2-10, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Simpson, who was one of 12 players selected to the roster, was CU's first AVCA First Team All-American (2014). Despite playing only two seasons for the Buffs (2013-14), she left her mark in the record books. In 2014, Simpson broke CU's single season kills record (518), hammering 591 during the year. An offensive powerhouse, Simpson hammered 20 or more kills in 10 matches, which broke CU's record of nine matches with 20 or more kills in a season. In total, she recorded double-digit kills in 32 matches and had 22 double-doubles.

In addition to her All-America honor, she also earned first-team All-Pac-12 and All-AVCA Pacific South Region accolades in 2014. She was selected as the state's Female College Athlete of the Year for 2014 by the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame and was named the team's offensive MVP for the second straight season. A Preseason Pac-12 selection, Simpson was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week twice and was the only player in 2014 to be named the ESPNW Volleyball Player of the Week two times. Simpson recorded 981 kills, 632 digs and 140 blocks in just two seasons with the Buffs.

The U.S. squad is part of the six-team Pool B with Argentina, Costa Rica, Cuba, Peru and Trinidad & Tobago. The Americans open pool play on July 2 against Peru, followed by Trinidad & Tobago on July 3, Cuba on July 4, Costa Rica on July 5 and Argentina on July 6.

Pool A includes Canada, Colombia, host Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Quarterfinals are set for July 8 with crossover second- and third-place finishers facing off. The two pool winners advance directly to the semifinals on July 9 with the medal rounds set for July 10.

The U.S. has won the Pan American Cup three of the past four years and four total times since the inaugural event in 2002.

Players Mentioned

Taylor Simpson

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