University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Connections Make Grand Prix Preliminary Roster
4/26/2012 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
April 26, 2012
Two players with Minnesota connections have made the World Grand Prix Preliminary roster in former Gophers Lindsey Berg and Lauren Gibbemeyer.
The U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team, which has already qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games, opens its title defense on June 8 against Germany in a Pool B match at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Now in its 20th year, the FIVB World Grand Prix will have the same preliminary round format as 2011 with a total of 16 teams competing across three weeks of pool-play in 10 countries from June 8 to 24. The finals are set for Ningbo, China from June 27 to July 1.
Berg most recently led Team USA to a gold medal at the 2011 FIVB World Grand Prix and the NORCECA Championship. Named the 2011 USA Volleyball Indoor Female Athlete of the Year, the honor was the second of her career, after receiving the award in 2008. At the 2011 Grand Prix, she started in 12 of 14 and helped Team USA to a .293 hitting efficiency. She was also named Best Setter of the NORCECA Women's Continental Championship after averaging 7.07 assists per set. Completing her college career in 2001, Berg was named a three-time All-Big Ten selection in 1999, 2000 and 2001. She finished Minnesota career ranked third in the conference in all-time assists at 5,913.
A native of St. Paul, Minn., Gibbemeyer recently competed in the 2011 Pan American Games, helping Team USA to a bronze medal. Gibbemeyer started all five sets and averaged 3.53 points per set with a 1.41 block average. In the bronze medal match, she totaled 17 points against Dominican Republic. In the match she had six blocks and hitting efficiency of .421. Completing her college career in 2010, she was an All-American as well as a unanimous All-Big Ten selection. She set a school record of 593 blocks and ninth in all-time kills at 1,421.
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