by Mims, a rising junior, will train and compete July 5-16 on the CNT-Europe squad, one of three teams within the U.S. Collegiate National Team program. The CNT-Europe team will compete in the 13th Annual European Global Challenge, July 11-14, in Pula, Croatia, after training and friendly matches in Europe. Prior to the Global Challenge, the CNT-Europe squad will tentatively train in Maribor, Slovenia, with friendly matches versus various National Teams.
Cougar players Casey Schoenlein and McKenna Woodford and Head Coach Jen Greeny were on the 2016 CNT-Europe team that became the first U.S. Collegiate team to win the Global Challenge Tournament in Pula, Croatia, in its 12-year history.
Mims is a 6-3 middle blocker from Billings, Mont., who was a 2016 PrepVolleyball.com All-America Honorable Mention selection and named to the 2016 All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention Team. Mims earned Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week after she tallied 21 kills, hit .425, and had 13 blocks in the upset win over No. 9 Stanford and sweep of California. She also was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week after a career-high 14 kills with 11 blocks versus Arizona State. In upset wins at No. 4 Washington and at No. 9 UCLA, she contributed 21 kills, hit .319, and had 11 digs and 11 blocks. Mims’ career-high 11 blocks at Oregon State and again versus Arizona State tied Claire Martin at fourth-best for blocks in a four-set match in WSU records. Mims’ career-high four aces versus No. 20 Oregon is tied for third-best in WSU all-time. In 2016 statistics, Mims’ 1.49 blocks per set average was second-best in Pac-12 and eighth-best in NCAA while her 191 total blocks was fourth-best in NCAA. She led the team with a .303 hitting percentage and in Pac-12 only stats, her 30 solo blocks and 1.52 blocks per set was the best in the conference. Mims’ 191 total blocks is 19th-best in NCAA all-time single season records (25-point scoring, 2008-16). Her 161 block assists is third-best in WSU all-time single season records. In WSU career statistics, her 1.30 blocks per set average is fifth-best all-time, 42 solo blocks is 14th-best, 239 block assists is 16th-best, and 281 total blocks is 16th-best.
University of Cincinnati Head Coach Molly Alvey will serve as the CNT-Europe head coach and will be assisted by North Carolina State University Assistant Coach Nicki Holmes.
2017 U.S. Collegiate National Team – Europe Tour
Name (Position, School, 2017 College Year, Height, Hometown)
Corissa Crocker (M, University of Michigan, 6-3, 3, Brighton, Michigan)
Kristen Gengenbacher (S, University of San Diego, 5-9, 1, Quincy, Illinois)
Claire Kiefer-Wright (M, University of Michigan, 6-1, 1, South Pasadena, California)
Taylor Mims (OPP, Washington State University, 6-3, 2, Billings, Montana)
Carlyle Nusbaum (OH, Lipscomb University, 5-10, 2, Overland Park, Kansas)
Kelsie Payne (OPP, University of Kansas, 6-3, 1, Austin, Texas)
Taira Robins-Hardy (S, Brigham Young University, 6-2, 1, Waimanalo, Hawaii)
Jenna Rosenthal (M, Marquette University, 6-6, 2, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin)
Courtney Schwan (OH, University of Washington, 6-1, 1, Auburn, Washington)
Jaali Winters (OH, Creighton University, 6-2, 2, Ankeny, Iowa)
Brittany Witt (L, Creighton University, 5-8, 3, Omaha, Nebraska)
