The U.S. Women's National Team has narrowed down a 19-athlete training roster of college athletes and recent college grads and determined the 12-person team that will compete in the Pan Am Cup. Here are nine things you need to know about this all-star group of athletes that will represent Team USA  in the Dominican Republic, July 2-10.

1. Of the six college graduates on the roster, five are playing professionally overseas. Micha Hancock plays for MKS Dabrowa Gornicza in Poland, Megan Courtney for Ponce Leonas in Puerto Rico, Madi Kingdon for Azerrail Baku in Azerbaijan, Taylor Simpson for Heungkuklife Pinkspiders in Korea and Carly Wopat for Halkbank Women Sports Club in Turkey.

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2. Two of the best collegiate setters of all time will quarterback the offense. Micha Hancock and Lauren Carlini faced off in the 2013 national championship match between Penn State and Wisconsin when Carlini was a freshman, and in 2013 and 2014 they were constantly in competition with each other for top Big Ten and national honors, with Hancock earning 2014 AVCA Player of the Year and Carlini being named 2014 Big Ten Player of the Year.

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3. The roster is entirely comprised of All-Americans, including seven First Team honorees: Rhamat Alhassan, Lauren Carlini, Micha Hancock, Taylor Simpson, Alex Holston, Carly Wopat and Kelsie Payne.

4. University of Pittsburgh coach Dan Fisher will serve as head coach for the Pan Am Cup since women's national team head coach Karch Kiraly will be in Bangkok for the World Grand Prix Finals. Fisher also coached the Pan Am Games team last summer, guiding that squad to a gold medal.

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5. Middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan starting playing volleyball at age 16. Three years later, the former basketball player earned the title of AVCA Newcomer of the Year after completing her freshman season at Florida. You can read her blog here.

6. Lefty opposite Alex Holston didn't make her middle school team and was forced to serve as the manager. Now, the University of Florida senior is a three-time All-American and one of the best opposites in the country.



7. Brittany Howard's mother played for the U.S. Women's National Team from 1985 to 1986. ​Eileen Howard (née Dempster) was a three-time All-American middle blocker at Pacific. 

8. Taylor Simpson was the first volleyball player from Colorado to earn First Team All-American honors. As a senior, Simpson broke the record for kills in a season at Colorado with 591.

9. Nikki Taylor and Justine Wong-Orantes also play beach volleyball for their respective colleges. Taylor played at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions for Hawaii in 2016, going 17-13 overall. Wong-Orantes competed at the No. 2 spot for Nebraska this past season as a junior, partnering with Amber Rolfzen.

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2016 U.S. Women's National Team Pan Am Cup Roster

Lauren Carlini (S, 6-2, West Aurora, Illinois, University of Wisconsin)
Micha Hancock (S, 5-11, Edmond, Oklahoma, Penn State)
Megan Courtney (OH, 6-1, Dayton, Ohio, Penn State), Puerto Rico
Brittany Howard (OH, 6-3, Los Altos, California, Stanford University)
Madi Kingdon (OH, 6-1, Phoenix, Arizona, University of Arizona)
Taylor Simpson (OH, 6-3, Colorado Springs, Colorado, University of Colorado)
Alex Holston (OPP, 6-1, Olney, Maryland, University of Florida)
Nikki Taylor (OPP, 6-3, Honolulu, Hawaii, University of Hawaii)
Carly Wopat (MB, 6-2, Santa Barbara, California, Stanford University)
Rhamat Alhassan (M, 6-4, Glenarden, Maryland, University of Florida)
Kelsie Payne (M, 6-3, Austin, Texas, University of Kansas)
Justine Wong-Orantes (L, 5-6, Cypress, California, University of Nebraska)