Former Cal setter Carli Lloyd has been named to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women's Volleyball Team, USA Volleyball announced Tuesday.

Lloyd, who starred at Cal from 2007-10 and is the Bears' only National Player of the Year in program history, was one of 12 athletes selected to the team that will compete in the Rio games next month. The volleyball competition commences on Aug. 6.

Lloyd also becomes the first Olympian in Cal volleyball history.

"We're very excited for Carli," Cal coach Rich Feller said. "It's very well-deserved. She was one of the very top setters on the college level and now is showing she can represent the United States on the highest level."

Lloyd was a four-year starter for the Bears who led Cal to arguably its best four-year stretch ever. She guided the Bears to two NCAA Final Four appearances (Cal's only two NCAA national semifinal berths ever) and two other NCAA Elite Eight showings. Lloyd was a three-time AVCA All-American and was named the AVCA National Player of the Year in 2010.

"I couldn't be more proud of her. She is definitely deserving," said Cal beach volleyball coach Meagan Schmitt, who was Lloyd's teammate all four years at Cal. "Her goal from Day One was to go to the Olympics. It's a huge testament to her as a person and a player."

Lloyd has been part of the U.S. national team program since shortly after graduating from Cal in 2011. She was an alternate on the 2012 Olympic Team then spent a couple of years battling injuries. Lloyd came back to earn MVP honors at the 2015 Pan Am Games and has been a consistent cog in Team USA's rotation during the FIVB World Grand Prix this summer.

"Her journey has been far from smooth," Schmitt said. "It has not been an easy road. It has been really amazing to watch her go through this journey. She's been tested and overcome challenges. There were so many times she could have thrown in the towel. The reason she is going to Rio is because she kept pushing and kept trusting the process. And now she's here."

The Americans have never won the gold medal at the Olympics but enter the Rio Games ranked No. 1 in the world by the FIVB. Lloyd is one of three setters on the U.S. roster, along with Alisha Glass and Courtney Thompson.

"Very few players can do what Carli has over the last couple of years: transform her mindset and transform her game," U.S. coach Karch Kiraly said. "She has more tools than ever to make us better in myriad ways."