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MADISON, Wis. -- M.E. Dodge is pretty excited for this weekend – make that very excited!

On Friday, the junior on the Wisconsin volleyball team heads to Michigan to train and compete with the USA Volleyball Collegiate National Team-Detroit.

"This is going to be my first time wearing the USA jersey, and I am very excited," said Dodge. "I have always wanted to wear one and I finally get to. It has always been a goal of mine ever since I was a little girl to put on the Red, White, and Blue jersey."

The CNT-Detroit squad, which is part of USA Volleyball's High Performance pipeline and is considered a second tryout for the U.S. Women's National Team, will train from Friday through Tuesday at the University of Michigan. Afterward, the athletes will be assigned to one of two 12-member teams that will play three exhibition matches against each other at the Cobo Center from June 27, June 28 and June 30. The matches are being held in conjunction with the USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships under the same roof.

The 5-10 libero is the second Badger to compete with a USA Volleyball Collegiate National Team this summer. Sophomore Dana Rettke traveled to China from May 20-31 while redshirt freshman Danielle Hart will travel to Europe from July 4-14, training and playing in Maribor, Slovenia, before competing in the European Global Challenge in Pula, Croatia.

Dodge is one of three Big Ten Conference athletes on the team, joining Michigan State's Meredith Norris and Illinois' Morgan O'Brien.

The East Troy, Wisconsin, native knows that with all of the new faces on the squad, she'll have to work extra hard to make her team play well.

"I think I will get a lot out of this experience both on and off the court," said Dodge. "I am going to have to learn how to get out of my comfort zone even more. I will have to better my communication because I don't know any of the girls that I will be playing with. 

"I am really looking forward to how I can better my leadership skills when I am not playing with my UW team. I am also excited to just be a sponge and soak up any information that can make me become a better player."

Dodge knows that training and competing against some of the best collegiate players in the country will be a great learning experience for her on and off the court.

"I am looking forward to training and competing with other very talented athletes from around the country," Dodge said. "Off the court I am excited to get to know other girls from inside and outside of my conference." 

More than anything, Dodge is excited to bring back what she learns over the next 10 days to the Badgers this fall.

"I'm pretty open to learning and watching how my game will grow, so if I learn something along the way that could help my team become even stronger then I will gladly share with the Badgers," explained Dodge. "I am just so excited to start this trip and make so many memories."
 
U.S. Collegiate National Team – Detroit
Schedule of Events
June 22 – Arrive Ann Arbor, Mich.
June 23-26 – Training in Ann Arbor, Mich.
June 27 – Showcase Match 1 – 5 p.m. ET (Cobo Center, Detroit) WATCH LIVE
June 28 – Showcase Match 2 – 5 p.m. ET (Cobo Center, Detroit) WATCH LIVE
June 29 – Public appearance at Girls Junior National Championship (Cobo Center, Detroit)
June 30 – Final Match – 5 p.m. ET (Cobo Center, Detroit) WATCH LIVE
 
U.S. Collegiate National Team - Detroit
Name (Position, School, Height, College Eligibility Remaining, Hometown)
Brooke Bailey (OH, Clemson University, 6-2, 2, Canton, Ohio)
Danielle Barton (OPP, University of Utah, 6-0, 3, Sandy, Utah)
Ashley Brown (S, Washington State University, 5-9, 2, Prosper, Texas)
Bailey Choy (S, University of Utah, 5-9, 2, Honolulu, Hawaii)
Gabby Curry (L, University of Kentucky, 5-9, 3, Buford, Georgia)
Kendra Dahlke (OH, University of Arizona, 6-0, 1, Bonsall, California)
Candice Denny (M, University of Arizona, 6-2, 3, Saratoga, California)
M.E. Dodge (L, University of Wisconsin, 5-10, 2, East Troy, Wisconsin)
Andrea Hale (OH, Weber State University, 6-3, 1, Elk Ridge, Utah)
Reilly Killeen (L, Kansas State University, 5-4, 1, Honolulu, Hawaii)
Kaylin Korte (OH, Clemson University, 6-0, 2, Morris, Illinois)
Brooke Morgan (M, University of Kentucky, 6-5, 1, Dike, Iowa)
Meredith Norris (OH, Michigan State University, 6-3, 3, Owosso, Michigan)
Morgan O'Brien (L, University of Illinois, 5-8, 3, Libertyville, Illinois)
Elizabeth Pamphile (M, University of Arkansas, 6-1, 3, Orlando, Florida)
Addie Picha (M, University of San Diego, 6-2, 1, Puyallup, Washington)
Yossiana Pressley (OH, Baylor University, 6-0, 3, Cypress, Texas)
Tess Reid (S, Loyola Marymount University, 5-8, 2, Lenexa, Kansas)
Lauren Sanders (M, University of Washington, 6-4, 3, Snohomish, Washington)
Sarah Sanders (OPP, University of Oklahoma, 6-4, 3, Plano, Texas)
Mia Sokolowski (OPP, University of Florida, 6-4, 3, Tucson, Arizona)
Haley Templeton (S, University of Miami, 6-0, 1, Alpharetta, Georgia)
Jaila Tolbert (OPP, Virginia Tech, 6-1, 1, Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Amber Witherspoon (M, Syracuse University, 6-4, 1, Chicago, Illinois)

U.S. Collegiate National Team-Detroit Delegation
Mentor Coach: Rod Wilde (Madison Elite VBC)
Manager: Jeff Wanderer (West Hills College)
Head Coach: Dennis Janzen (Trinity Western University)
Head Coach: Nickie Sanlin (McKendree University)
Assistant Coach: Dave Butler (University of Oregon)
Assistant Coach: Lindsay Brown (IPFW Men's Volleyball)