COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –
For the first time in five years, U.S. military volleyball teams will once again compete in the Armed Forces Volleyball tournament.
Six men’s and women’s teams will battle in a round robin competition at Fort Carson, Colorado beginning today through Friday. The 2024 championship marks the first Armed Forces competition since the U.S. Armed Forces women’s team participated in the 2019 Conseil International du Sport Militaire World Military Games held in Wuhan, China.
The Navy women’s team’s coaching staff, after a gold medal finish at the U.S. Volleyball Nationals in 2023, enter the tournament with an entirely new roster of players including 2024 Naval Academy graduates Jordan and Jamie Llwellyn. The 6-foot outside hitters led the Midshipmen to the Patriot League Championship game as juniors.
The Army women’s team’s roster includes four West Point alums and Puerto Rican national team member Julymar Otero-Perez. Otero-Perez, a 6-foot outside hitter and setter, brings versatility to a talented Army roster, coach Sgt. 1st Class Tatiana Brown said.
The Air Force men’s team will be anchored by 6-foot-6 middle blocker Anthony Clowers. Clowers, an instructor at the Airman Leadership School at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, returns as the most experienced member of the team having competed on the team for three years.
After the Marine Corps declined to field teams for the tournament, two Marines joined the Navy men’s roster, Navy assistant coach Gilberto Bermudez confirmed.
The Army men’s roster features 6-4 outside hitter Sgt. Michael Tuimavave, a native of American Samoa. The 6-4 Tuimavave impressed Army coaches with his powerful spikes during practices. He joins Staff Sgt. William Narvaez, an experienced setter from the 2019 All-Army team.
Former standout Abby Chancey, who led the Air Force women to a 6-0 record and the 2019 Armed Forces Volleyball tournament championship, joins the team’s staff as an assistant coach to Senior Master Sgt. Christopher LaFaurie. Chancey also competed at the 2019 CISM Games.
The tournament concludes Friday with any potential tie breaker matches.