The ISU volleyball home tournament was not the last spring competition for one Cyclone player.

An even more intense training program will begin for junior setter Kaylee Manns starting May 18th. 

For the second time in her career, Manns was chosen to participate in the 2009 U.S. Women’s National A2 Program. The Topeka, Kan. native was also selected to compete the summer after her freshman year and looks forward to another training session with some of the best coaches and players the A2 program has to offer. 

“It was a very rewarding experience and an outstanding honor,” Manns said. “The best part about it was getting to meet girls from all different teams, and just getting to play with that group of athletes that college volleyball has to offer.” 

Not only did Manns benefit from the camp, but so did ISU volleyball. Head coach Christy Johnson noticed her improvement after her return from the camp.

“I just felt like she had raised her level of play a whole notch just because of the experience she had out there, and the training, and the level of competition,” Johnson said. 

In each of her seasons with Iowa State, Manns has helped the Cyclones earn a berth in the NCAA tournament. In 2008, she finished fourth in the nation in assists per set with 11.69. 

Some of the best college coaches in the nation run the six hour training camp each day, and Manns enjoyed hearing other coaches’ advice on how to improve her play. 

“They provided encouragement, and just having their support was great,” Manns said. “I got insight to what some of the best college coaches thought about my play and things that I do on the court.” 

The 2009 A2 coaching staff includes Kansas State head coach Suzie Fritz and Arizona head coach Jason Watson who will lead the camp as head coaches. 

Fritz has had eight seasons with the Wildcats and became the winningest coach in school history with 169 victories last season.

Watson has only been with the Sun Devils for a year, but in his first coaching stint with Brigham Young he compiled a 74-18 overall record and led the Cougars to three straight appearances in the NCAA tournament. 

Pacific assistant coach Aven Lee and Minnesota associate head coach Scott Swanson will be assistant coaches during the program. 

Along with the coaching staff, the players training alongside Manns are among the top in the country. Manns will be highly benefit from setting some of the top hitters in college volleyball.

“She’ll have great hitters to set to, a great coaching staff that’s going to be working with her,” Johnson said. “It is a really nice opportunity.” 

Three of the 10 outside hitters chosen for the program include Sarah Ammerman (Texas A & M), Michelle Bartsch (Illinois) and Ellen Herman (Ohio). 

Ammerman participated in the program in 2008 and was named Texas A & M’s most valuable player, leading the Aggies in kills and points, and averaging 3.35 kills per set. 

Bartsch was named Big Ten and AVCA All-Mideast Region Freshman of the Year at Illinois and helped the Illini advance to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. 

Herman was the first Ohio University non-senior to receive AVCA All-America recognition with her honorable mention status in 2008.

 The outside hitter ranked ninth in the nation in kills, averaging 4.57 per set — a school record for the Toledo, Ohio native. 

“The competition level is really high and I’m going to be setting some really amazing girls and that is an honor to me,” Manns said. 

Manns looks forward to improving her game, competing at one of the highest levels in the college level, and making friendships along the way. 

“I think it will be fun, it’s a whole new group of girls and I will really enjoy meeting them and hanging out with them,” Manns said. “It’s just another way to meet people and that’s something that I love to do.”