Courtney McKeen ’27
Staff Writer
This past weekend, Katie Russell ‘26 and Abbie Lane ‘25 of the Holy Cross Women’s Volleyball Team traveled to Colorado Springs, Colorado to participate in the US Women’s National Team Open Program. Run by the US Women’s National Team, it gives athletes selected to attend the opportunity to compete for a spot on the Women’s National Team, which will compete in international tournaments around the world. Athletes also have a shot at the Women’s Collegiate National Team. This year more than 200 athletes from around the country attended this program in hopes of landing a spot on one of the national teams.
As one of the team’s captains, junior setter Abbie Lane boasts some of the most impressive statistics on the team. With 234 kills, she has the second highest number on the team, and in September of this year she hit the benchmark of 500 career kills. She ranks third on the team in number of digs with 169, and also recorded her 500th career dig in September.
Outside of her athletic career, Lane has also made a large impact on the team off the court. For the past two seasons, Lane, who has a minor in deaf studies, has been the driving force behind the team’s Deaf* Awareness Game. Both of these games have been major successes and have brought significant awareness to the hearing impaired community. It is safe to say that as she enters her senior year, she will be one of the major leaders of the locker room.
Sophomore outside hitter Katie Russell ranked second in the team in assists and tied for 4th on the team in service aces, putting up 13. This past season, she started seven games while appearing in 22, and had 20 or more assists in five games. The team is certainly hoping for her to continue her development into an elite outside hitter next year.
After a rough 2023 campaign in which the team went 4-21, this might just be what the Crusaders needed. With seniors Halle Carter and Sanaea Simmons set to graduate, the team is in need of some voices to step up and help lead the locker room, and Russell and Lane may just be those voices. If the US Women’s National Team can see significant potential in these two players, then the Crusaders have nothing to be worried about next season. Fans of the program can expect a highly motivated team next season, possibly led by Lane and Russell.
Of course, it also has to be mentioned that these two players now have a chance at making the Women’s Collegiate National Team, as well as the Women’s National Team. According to their website, the team is slated to compete in the Volleyball Nations League, Pan American Cup, and the NORCECA Continental Championships. In addition, athletes born in 2005 or later will be eligible to compete in the NORCECA U21 Continental Championships.
Regardless of what happens, Russell and Lane have achieved national attention, and their future, whether it’s with the Crusaders or the National Team, is bright. The Crusader Volleyball team will be back in action this fall.
Featured Image Courtesy of @hcrossvb on Instagram
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