Easton, Tadder Invited to 2023 USA Volleyball WNT Open Program
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia volleyball setter Gabby Easton and middle blocker Abby Tadder have been selected as participants for USA Volleyball’s Women’s National Team Open Program. The event will take place Feb. 24-26 at the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Additionally, UVA head coach Shannon Wells will serve as an evaluator on behalf of USA Volleyball.
The WNT Open Program, which is open to current and recently college graduates, is used for consideration for selection to both USA Volleyball’s Women’s National Team and its Women’s Collegiate National Team. The 2023 U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team will train in Anaheim, California alongside U.S. Women’s National Team athletes and staff.
This year’s tryout marks Easton’s second of her collegiate volleyball career, having attended the event in 2019 as a member of Clemson’s volleyball team. In 2022, her first season at Virginia, Easton led the Cavaliers in total assists (721) and assists per set (6.27). She started in 17 matches and appeared in all 115 possible sets. The Anderson, South Carolina native also finished second on the team in aces (2) and third in digs (186). Her 54 kills are the most by a UVA setter in a single season since 2013. Easton also led the Cavaliers with five double-doubles on the season.
Tadder appeared in all 29 of UVA’s matches in 2022, including 27 starts, and led the team in blocks (114.0) and blocks per set (0.99). Tadder hit .333 on the season, good for second on the team, 10th all-time in program single-season history and ninth among all ACC players on the season. Last summer, Tadder represented the United States while competing in the European Global Challenge in Pula, Croatia.
Easton and Tadder were both named All-ACC Academic recipients earlier this year.