GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After gathering all the front office and roster pieces over the last 12 months, the Grand Rapids Rise will bring everyone together next week for the first time as a collective team.
The Pro Volleyball Federation franchise will hold a three-day mini-camp, with practices being held Tuesday (Dec. 5), Wednesday (Dec. 6) and Friday (Dec. 8) from 1-4 p.m. each day at the MSA Fieldhouse (5435 28th Street St. Ct. SE).
“It’s hard to believe that we are finally here and the mini-camp is fast approaching,” said Rise head coach Cathy George. “It’s been over a year of hard work, making this a reality. As the team arrives, there is a new form of excitement to begin this journey. It’s going to be awesome to see how this team comes together. We finally get to see how everyone’s strengths blend together as we make plans for our championship run.”
Fourteen players are expected to report for the Rise mini-camp.
| NAME | POS | HT | HOMETOWN | PREVIOUS TEAM/UNIVERSITY |
| Symone Abbott | OH | 6-1 | Northville, Mich. | Athletes Unlimited Pro League (USA) / Northwestern |
| Morgan Bergren * | S | 6-1 | Muncie, Ind. | May Deco VB Logroño (Spain) / Kentucky |
| Taylor Bruns | S | 5-11 | Normal, Ill. | Göteborg Volleybollklubb (Sweden) / South Carolina |
| Kayla Caffey | MB | 6-0 | Chicago, Ill. | Athletes Unlimited Pro League (USA) / Texas |
| Claire Chaussee | OH | 6-0 | Sun Prairie, Wis. | Athletes Unlimited Pro League (USA) / Louisville |
| Emiliya Dimitrova | OPP | 6-1 | Shumen, Bulgaria | VBC Trasporti Pesanti Casalmaggiore (Italy) |
| Ashley Evans ^ | S | 6-1 | Liberty Township, Ohio | CSM București (Romandia) / Purdue |
| Alyssa Jensen | MB | 6-4 | Holland, Mich. | Michigan State |
| Camila Gómez | L | 5-2 | Cali, Colombia | EC Pinheiros (Brazil) / Texas A&M |
| Nia Grant | MB | 6-2 | Warren, Ohio | Athletes Unlimited Pro League (USA) / Penn State |
| Marin Grote | MB | 6-4 | Burbank, Calif. | Athletes Unlimited Pro League (USA) / Washington |
| Erika Pritchard | OH | 6-3 | Middletown, Md. | VBC Cheseaux (Switzerland) / Penn State |
| Shannon Scully | OH | 6-2 | Huntington Beach, Calif. | Terville-Florange OC (France) / USC |
| Sarah Sponcil | S/L | 5-8 | Phoenix, Ariz. | Team USA Beach Volleyball / UCLA |
| Holly Toliver | OH | 6-2 | Berrien Springs, Mich. | Athletes Unlimited Pro League (USA) / Michigan State |
* Joining team on a try-out / ^ Unable to join team for mini-camp due to playing professionally in Europe
The three mini-camp practice sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday are closed to the public but are open to media. Interviews can be conducted after practice each day at 4 p.m.
The Rise are also hosting their free “Meet the Team” Showcase on Thursday, Dec. 7, from 6-8 p.m. inside Van Andel Arena. This will be the public’s first chance to see the Rise in action. Following a sold-out kids’ clinic from 5-6 p.m. and a serving contest to win 2024 Rise season tickets from 6-7 p.m., the main event will begin at 7 p.m. with Rise player introductions and a skills showcase. The evening will conclude with an autograph session with the Rise team and coaching staff.
Media availability during the showcase will be held between 5:30-6 p.m.
Any media planning to attend a mini-camp practice or the Rise showcase should notify Rise public and community relations coordinator Alex Eisen (aeisen@grrise.com) in advance.
ABOUT PRO VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION
Pro Volleyball Federation is REAL PRO VOLLEYBALL and the premier women’s professional volleyball league in North America. Pro Volleyball Federation will begin play in January 2024 with world class players and coaches, including some of America’s greatest volleyball players and elite players from around the world. Our entire focus is on ensuring that our level and quality of play, our treatment of players, the quality of our event presentations, and our day-to-day fan experience is world class and the very best offered in North America. For more information, visit ProVolleyball.com.
ABOUT THE GRAND RAPIDS RISE
Founded in December 2022 as the first Pro Volleyball Federation franchise and Grand Rapids’ first major-league women’s sports team, the Grand Rapids Rise will make their debut at Van Andel Arena on Jan. 25, 2024. Led by longtime Michigan State and Western Michigan head coach Cathy George, the Rise’s 14-player roster will play 24 matches (12 home, 12 away) during its inaugural season. The team is operated by DP Fox Sports & Entertainment and owned by Dan DeVos, who is also co-owner and CEO of the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Visit grrise.com for the schedule and to purchase tickets.