Volleyball Voices

Volleyball Video: USA Olympic Volleyball Coach Hugh McCutcheon's First Gopher Volleyball Interview

Hugh McCutcheon's First Gopher Volleyball Interview

http://www.GopherSports.com

Team USA Volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon will take over as the head coach of the University of Minnesota Volleyball team for the 2012 season. McCutcheon, who recently led the US indoor team to a silver medal at the London Olympics, chats with Gopher Radio Network voice Mike Grimm in his first-ever interview as the Gophers' head coach

BYU Women's Volleyball Player Hamson competes with National A2 Team

BYU Women's Volleyball Player Hamson competes with National A2 Team

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Women’s volleyball player Jennifer Hamson participated in the U. S. National A2 Team tournament June 30-July 4, playing with and against some of the top collegiate volleyball athletes in the country.

"This was an amazing experience," Hamson said. "I had so much fun playing great volleyball with great girls. I was grateful for the opportunities to participate in some USA volleyball. It was fun to meet new people and gain some new friends."  We also had the opportunity to do some service while we were there. One group held a volleyball clinic at a near by recenter and the group i was in visited the Ronald Mcdonald house. It was great to talk to the people there and to be inspired by their stories and challenges. Overall it was an amazing experience.

The team was divided into four sub-teams for the U.S. Women’s National A2 Team Tournament. Hamson played with the USA Red Team, competing against the USA Blue, White and Gold teams. The tournament was held in Columbus, Ohio, in conjunction with the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships.

"For the first couple of days we did a lot of training," Hamson said. "We had two practices a day and we were well cared for by the generous university where we practiced. Then the next couple of days they split the athletes teams and we played each other. The team I was on won some and lost some, but the best part was playing high-level volleyball with high-level teammates. Every athlete there was extremely talented and it was great to play alongside and learn from all of them."

In the Red Team’s June 30 victory against the White Team, Hamson helped her team to a 2-1 victory with nine points. Hamson had a personal-best 16 points in the July 2 match against the Gold Team, finishing the tournament with 48 total points.

"We also had the opportunity to do some service while we were there," Hamson said. "One group held a volleyball clinic at a nearby rec center and the group i was in visited the Ronald MacDonald house. It was great to talk to the people there and to be inspired by their stories and challenges. Overall it was an amazing experience."

Hamson returns to Provo to train with the BYU women’s volleyball team in preparation for the 2012 season, which starts Aug. 24 with a road tournament match against Arkansas State. The team’s home opener is against Utah Sept. 7.

 

United States Women’s Volleyball Team to Play for the Gold Medal

United States Women’s Volleyball Team to Play for the Gold Medal

 

Lincoln- The United States women’s volleyball team and former Husker Jordan Larson are heading to the Olympic Gold Medal Match after beating South Korea in three straight sets (25-20, 25-22, 25-22) in the semifinal round at the 2012 London Olympics on Thursday.

 

Larson, who posted the second-highest kill total on the team, notched 10 kills, three blocks, a total of 14 points and one ace during the three-set match.

 

The teams traded small leads throughout much of the first set, but the U.S. took control on a 5-0 run with four points on Larson’s serve. South Korea stayed in front of the United States during most of the second set, until two errors by South Korea gave the Americans a 23-22 lead before Larson’s touch kill gave them set point. In the third set, the two teams were tied at 21, but the Americans dominated in the final stretch, winning four of the last five points. A stunning serve by Larson set up match point, where a kill by Logan Tom clinched the match and sent the U.S. to the final.

 

The U.S. women, who are 7-0 at the 2012 London Olympic Games and are 30-1 overall this year, are in search of their first Olympic Games gold medal after winning silver medals in 2008 in Beijing and 1984 in  Los Angeles. Team USA also won the bronze in 1992 in Barcelona. The team will face either Brazil or Japan, with their match set for 1:30 p.m. CT today. Team USA beat the Brazilians in four sets in Group B play but has not faced Japan at these Olympics. The gold medal match is slated for Saturday, Aug. 11 at 12:30 p.m. CT and will be shown via tape delay on NBC or live on nbcolympics.com.

 

Colorado State University Volleyball’s Brieon Paige Selected to USA Volleyball’s A2 Team

Colorado State University Volleyball’s Brieon Paige Selected to USA Volleyball’s A2 Team
Senior will train for nine days in Columbus

June 22, 2012

By Nic Hallisey

Athletic Media Relations

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—Colorado State senior Brieon Paige is one of 48 collegiate volleyball players selected to participate in this summer’s U.S. Women’s National A2 Team Program. Paige earned a spot last month after trying out Feb. 10-12 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. In all, 207 athletes participated in the open tryout put on by USA Volleyball.

“I feel really blessed,” Paige said. “I just have to thank God, because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and not everyone gets the chance to do this. The fact that I was chosen to play with some of the best girls in the nation is a huge blessing.”

The Sacramento, Calif., native will begin training on Tuesday at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus. Matches will be held June 30 through July 4 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, coinciding with USA Volleyball’s Girls’ Junior National Championships (GJNC). During the pre-tournament training session, the 48 athletes will be divided into four teams of 12 players, and will play one match per day during the GJNC. All matches will be A2 competing against each other in a round-robin format followed by a semifinal and final round.

The 48 players hail from 34 different collegiate programs, and Paige is one of 12 middle blockers. Athletes in college and with collegiate eligibility remaining for the 2012 collegiate season not selected to join the U.S. Women’s National team were eligible for the U.S. Women’s A2 program.

“The A2 training program is a great opportunity for Brieon,” CSU Head Coach Tom Hilbert said. “It’s an opportunity for her to be looked at for a possible future with USA Volleyball.”

Not only is it a good chance for her to showcase her talents on a national stage, but it also allows her to prepare for her senior season in Fort Collins.

“She’ll get to train in the summer against some great competition,” Hilbert said. “She’ll be competing and working with other players from all across the country. I’m really excited for her.”

Coaches for the A2 team are Northwestern University’s Keylor Chan, San Diego State University’s Deitre Collins-Parker, Georgia Tech’s Tanya Johnson, Pepperdine University’s Nina Matthies and Cal State Northridge’s Jeff Stork. One additional coaching position will be filled prior to the start of training.

Paige is the fourth Ram to be chosen for the U.S. Women’s National A2 team, joining Courtney Cox, Mekana Barnes and Evan Sanders.

While there are several things Paige is looking forward to about the experience, the biggest is what she can bring back to her team in the fall.

“I’m excited to learn new things, especially things I can use for the upcoming season,” the senior said. “This will give me a chance to learn from other girls, make new friends and play with them. I’m planning on training really hard and bringing that back with me to share with my teammates.”

As a junior in 2011, Paige led the Mountain West with a .333 hitting percentage. She also ranked seventh with 1.02 blocks per set in addition to averaging 2.16 kills per set. She earned all-MW honors for her production on the court.

For a complete list of players selected and more information about the training, click here. 

Olympic Volleyball Player Flo Hyman Honored As One of Top 40 Female Athletes To Impact Title IX Movement

Olympic Volleyball Player Flo Hyman Honored As One of Top 40 Female Athletes To Impact Title IX Movement

 

Thank you Ruth Nelson for this timely information on your friend, student, player Olympic volleyball player and role model Flo Hyman.

 

Ruth Nelson...

I have been blessed to have had her in my life for 12 years not only as a friend, team mate but a former player at University of Houston. You talk about role models she was that and I am thankful to have had those wonderful years with her and now I share with all of those around me.

Have a great day and one of my former players Cyn Burns (former player on the HIT team in 2004 and former American University Scholarship Libero) accepted the award last night in behalf of her family.

Ruth

http://www.lvclub.org/gallery-view.html?gal=2

Visit her Facebook Flo Hyman

This award was given last night for the top 40 Women who have made an Impact in the Title IX Movement.

http://www.wict.org/programs/40FOR40/Pages/40FOR40.aspx

40 FOR 40 

 

40 Years of Title IX.
40 Women Who Have Made an Impact.

June 21, 2012 | Washington, DC | 5 - 7:30 pm

  Join WICT, espnW and the Women's Sports Foundation, along with supporting sponsor Scripps Networks Interactive, as we honor forty women who have made a significant impact on society after participating in a high school or college sport in the forty years since Title IX was enacted.

What is Title IX?
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 requires institutions receiving federal money to provide equal educational opportunities to both females and males throughout their programming and activities.

The List
The Women's Sports Foundation (WSF), in collaboration with espnW and WICT, has selected a list of the forty women who have made a significant impact on society after participating in high school or college sports following passage of the 1972 law. The impact of the designees encompasses several fields of endeavor, including athletics, academics, science, technology, media, medicine and civil service.

Click here to view the 40 FOR 40 honorees.

http://www.wict.org/programs/40FOR40/Pages/40FOR40Honorees.aspx

To reserve your table or purchase your tickets today,
click here for a downloadable reservation form.

The Event
The 40 FOR 40 event will be held on Thursday, June 21, at the JW Marriott in Washington, DC, from 5 - 7:30 pm.

Julie Foudy, Title IX advocate, Past President of the Women's Sports Foundation, founder of the Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy, espnW contributor, and sports analyst for ABC/ESPN and the NBC Olympics, will deliver the keynote presentation.

ESPN SportsCenter anchor Lindsay Czarniak will moderate the Power Panel of '40 FOR 40' honorees Christine Brennan, columnist, USA Today; Beth Brooke, Global Vice Chair of Public Policy, Ernst & Young; Jodi Gillette, Senior Policy Advisor for Native American Affairs, The White House; Dr. Sandra Magnus, Astronaut, NASA; and Dr. Dot Richardson, Director and Medical Director, the National Training Center.

All Confirmed Participants

• Val Ackerman; Sports; Collegiate Basketball; First president of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
• Rep. Mary Bono Mack; Government and Civil Service; High School Gymnastics; Seven-term Congresswoman from California and avid advocate for sports and physical activity.
• Dr. Cynthia Breazeal; STEM and Academia; High School Track, Swimming, Soccer and Tennis; Founder and Director of the Personal Robots Group at MIT Media Laboratory.
• Christine Brennan; Journalism/Media; High School Basketball, Tennis and Field Hockey; Award-winning print and broadcast journalist who is the most widely read female sports columnist in the nation.
• Beth Brooke; Business; Collegiate Basketball; Global Vice Chair of Public Policy at Ernst & Young and named to the Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women list four times. Corporate gender diversity advocate.
• Ann Cody; Nonprofit; Paralympic and Collegiate Wheelchair Track & Field; Director of Policy and Global Outreach for BlazeSports America. Member of the International Paralympic Committee’s governing board.
• Julie Foudy; Sports; Collegiate and Olympic Soccer; Advocate for women’s and children’s rights, including Title IX. Received the FIFA Fair Play Award for her trip abroad to examine the working conditions of Reebok’s factories.
• Irma Garcia; Sports and Academia; Collegiate Basketball; First and only Hispanic female to head a NCAA Division I athletic program.
• Jodi Gillette; Government and Civil Service; Collegiate Basketball; White House Senior Policy Advisor for Native American Affairs.
• Dr. Kristina Johnson; STEM, Academia, Business, and Government/Civil Service; Collegiate Lacrosse and Field Hockey; Holds 45 patents. CEO, Enduring Energy. Formerly, professor at University of Colorado, dean of the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University, and provost at Johns Hopkins University. Served as Under Secretary for Energy at U.S. Department of Energy.
• Dr. Sandra Magnus; STEM; Collegiate Soccer; Astronaut on crew of final Space Shuttle mission. Played all four years on first women’s soccer team at college.
• Linda Mastandrea; Law; Paralympic Track & Field; Attorney and leading advocate for persons with disabilities; member, legal committee for International Paralympic Committee.
• Brig. Gen. Lori Reynolds, USMC; Military; Collegiate Basketball; First female commander at Parris Island and one of only two active female generals in the Marines.
• Dr. Dot Richardson; Medicine; Collegiate Softball; Executive Director and Medical Director of the National Training Center. Former Vice Chair of President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
• Rear Adm. Sandra Stosz, USCG; Academia and Military; High School Varsity Basketball & Track; State Champion, Track & Field. First female leader of a US military academy.
• Jill Vialet; Nonprofit; Collegiate Rugby; Social entrepreneur recognized as part of Forbes Impact 30 list for Playworks, an organization devoted to improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

Plus Four Honorary Designees:

• Sue Enquist; Sports; Collegiate Softball; Former UCLA Women’s Head Coach and espnW Advisory Board. Greatly expanded recognition and opportunities for the sport of softball.
• Nancy Hogshead-Makar; Law; Collegiate and Olympic Swimmer; Senior Director of Advocacy for the Women’s Sports Foundation. Leading Title IX expert and advocate.
• Cindy McConkey; Media; All State High School Basketball and Track & Field; Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at Scripps Networks Interactive. First female reporter to cover Southeastern Conference football.
• Kathy Payne; Media; High School Tennis Champion and Team Captain; 2012 Chair of the WICT Board and Vice President, Content Acquisition with Cox Communications. Currently negotiates complex carriage deals with all professional sports leagues, regional sports networks and college conferences for cable television and mobile platform distribution.

Background
According to the WSF, Title IX has resulted in growth of girls participating in high school sports from 1 in 27 in 1972 to 2 in 5 today. Title IX has not only made its impact felt in terms of athletic participation, but in educational opportunities for girls and women. According to several studies, the combination of the two has produced significant long-term educational, health and economic benefits for women. On average, those who participated in high school sports received more education and higher wages. Dr. Betsy Stevenson, an economist at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, found that changes created by Title IX explain about 20% of the rise in female educational attainment and up to 40% of the overall rise in the employment of women ages 25 to 34 in the years since passage.

 

Flo Hyman

Collegiate & Olympic Volleyball It is impossible to quantify the impact Flo Hyman had on the sport of volleyball with just words. She was the most famous volleyball player of the time, not just here in the United States, but also worldwide. Flo was a sight for sore eyes in a time when athletics was starting to become all about individual glory. Her charisma and devotion were both focused on the team rather than herself as an individual. Flo and her six foot five inch frame had it all, speed, strength and finesse. There was no other volleyball player like her anywhere in the world at the time. Flo was born in Los Angeles on July 29, 1954. She discovered volleyball and her destiny while attending high school in Inglewood, California. She would attend college at the University of Houston where she was named a collegiate All-American three times. In 1975 she joined the USVBA's year round training squad and was named a first team All-American 1976, 1977, and 1978. She was the Most Valuable Player in 1977. She was on the U.S. Olympic squad in 1980 and 1984. In 1980 the U.S. boycotted the games in Moscow, but in 1984 Flo captained the silver medal winning team. Some of her other international achievements include playing in the World Championships in 1978 and 1982 (Bronze Medal), the World Cup in 1977 and 1981, when she was named the Best Attacker, the Pan-Am Games in 1975, 1979, and 1983, the NORCECA Championships in 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981 and 1983, and the World University Games in 1973 and 1977. She was named All World and selected as the Most Valuable Player in countless international tournaments, as well as being named to numerous All-Star Teams. In 1985 she was named one of the All-Time Great Volleyball Players. The world prematurely lost Flo in January of 1986 when she collapsed during a match in the Japanese League. She was a victim of Marfan Syndrome, a sickness that she never knew she had. With news of her passing, people were grieving the whole world over. In a tribute to Flo at a special memorial service conduted at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, the following remarks were made about Flo: "Flo was more than a great athlete who pioneered in her sport and achieved so many firsts… She left us as she would have wanted us to remember her, fighting hard for the success that only commitment would realize and encouraging her teammates to seek and attain those lofty goals with her. She was and will continue to be an example that we all should emulate as we pass through life no matter what path we choose to walk. We will never see her like again. No one will ever lead U.S. Volleyball to so many proud and satisfying moments in the world arena. We are all much better because she was with us for a while but we are left so empty and unfulfilled because she left too soon." (USVBA)   Top 40 Athletes of the Title IX Era Photo: Ronald C. Modra/SI #25 Flo Hyman Often called the best volleyball player of all-time, the 6'5" hitter known as much for her devastating kills as for her kind heart played a crucial role in popularizing the game in the wake Title IX. The Californian rose to prominence as a three-time All America at the University of Houston but left school after her junior year, in 1974, to join the national team. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, she guided the U.S. to a silver medal. On Jan. 24, 1986, Hyman collapsed during a match in Japan and died of what an autopsy revealed to be Marfan Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder she didn't know she had. From 1987 to 2004, the Women's Sports Foundation honored outstanding female athletes with the Flo Hyman Memorial Award. Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1205/title-ix-top-40-athletes/content.16.html#ixzz1yX3Y5mpl 40 greatest female athletes: Flo Hyman May, 8, 2012 May 8 3:46 AP PhotoWhen Flo Hyman died in 1986, at the age of 31, during a match for her Japanese professional club, she instantly became a legend. ESPN is marking the 40th anniversary of Title IX by unveiling the top 40 female athletes of the past 40 years. Legend has it that Flo Hyman could spike the ball 110 mph. That she hit the ball so hard that it often had funky spin, making it appear to rise for an opponent ready to dig low. That at the same time, she was fiendishly accurate. "She could drill some angles you just couldn't even imagine," longtime U.S. teammate Laurel Iversen recalls. High school volleyball exploded during Hyman's star turn, and beach volleyball blossomed not long after her tragic death. She is No. 34 in ESPN's countdown. Read the complete story from espnW here. ESPN’s SportsCenter to Unveil Top 40 Female Athletes of Past 40 Years Beginning April 30 PRINT VERSIONFILED IN: espnW TAGGED: espnW, Power of IX SHARE: As part of ESPN’s companywide initiative The Power of IX – recognizing the 40th anniversary of Title IX – SportsCenter, in conjunction with espnW, will count down the Top 40 Female Athletes of Past 40 Years beginning Monday, April 30. Every weekday an athlete will be revealed, culminating with the No. 1 female athlete of the past 40 years announced Friday, June 22 – one day prior to the 40th anniversary of Title IX (June 23). SportsCenter will unveil each female athlete during the 10 a.m. weekday edition for the first six weeks (April 30-June 8), and the top 10 female athletes will be revealed during the 11 p.m. weeknight SportsCenter (June 11-22). The vignettes will be introduced by ESPN’s Hannah Storm. They will include footage and/or still action photos, along with video, from past or present coaches, teammates or a respected authority from within the women’s sports world. “Showcasing these remarkable athletes is a highlight of our initiative as we provide fans with insight into Title IX’s effect on society and what the future holds,” said Laura Gentile, vice president, espnW. espnW.com will provide an in-depth look at every athlete as chosen by an industry-wide blue-ribbon panel and based on athletic achievement. espnW.com has been the digital destination for ESPN’s The Power of IX initiative. The 24 voters:  Val Ackerman, Christine Brennan, Doris Burke, Jim Caple, Linda Cohn, Luke Cyphers, Anita DeFrantz, Sue Enquist, Chris Fowler, Jemele Hill, Johnette Howard, Sally Jenkins, Richard Lapchick, Nicole LaVoi, Donna Lopiano, Jackie MacMullan, Juliet Macur, Chris McKendry, Kathryn Olson, Robin Roberts, Le Anne Schreiber, Hannah Storm, Judy Sweet and Lesley Visser.  The first 10 athletes to be revealed (in alphabetical order) are: Joan Benoit (track) – first women’s Olympic marathon champion Cammi Granato (ice hockey) – 1998 Olympic Gold Medalist / 2002 Olympic Silver Medalist Flo Hyman (volleyball) – USA Volleyball MVP 1978 – 2002; 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist Julie Krone (horse racing) – first female jockey to win a Triple Crown race Kristine Lilly (soccer) – three-time Olympian with two gold medals (1996, 2004) Mary T. Meagher (swimming) – two gold medals in 1984 Olympics Fu Mingxia (diving) – quadruple Olympic-diving champion and world champion Mary Lou Retton (gymnastics) – won the Olympic all-around title (1984), scoring perfect 10s on floor exercise and vault Diana Taurasi (basketball) – Three-time collegiate national and two-time WNBA champion Abby Wambach (soccer) – 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist; three-time All-American Quotes from select vignettes: USA Today’s Christine Brennan: “Kristine Lilly’s forehead saved the Women’s World Cup in 1999 and may well have saved American women’s sports in some ways.”  Summer Sanders on Mary Lou Retton:  “I was at the ’84 Games. I remember her sticking that vault, you know, and throwing her head back with the beautiful smile. And I wanted that moment.” Tamika Catchings on Diana Tauasi: “You’ve heard Geno say it countless times- coming down the wire, last second shot, I’m getting the ball to D.T. And that’s just the kind of player she is. She’s hard-nosed, she’s fierce- a competitor.”  SportsCenter and espnW Continue to Unveil Top 40 Female Athletes of Past 40 Years Categories: Press Releases Written By Sara Bibel May 16th, 2012 via press release: May 16, 2012 SportsCenter and espnW Continue to Unveil Top 40 Female Athletes of Past 40 Years Nos. 25-21 to be revealed daily starting Monday, May 21, with expanded coverage on espnW.com SportsCenter, in conjunction with espnW, continues to unveil the Top 40 Female Athletes of the Past 40 Years, as part of ESPN's companywide initiative The Power of IX - recognizing the 40th anniversary of Title IX. Nos. 25-21 will be revealed, one per day, starting Monday, May 21, during the 10 a.m. ET weekday edition of SportsCenter. Athletes 25-21 (in alphabetical order): * Tracy Caulkins (swimming) - Three-time Olympic Gold medalist and a 16-time individual NCAA Champion for the University of Florida * Nancy Lopez (golf) - Won 48 LPGA Tour events, including three major championships * Dara Torres (swimming) - 12-time Olympic medalist and three-time individual NCAA Champion for the University of Florida * Marta (soccer) - Five-time FIFA World Player of the Year and two-time Olympic Silver medalist with the Brazilian National Team * Venus Williams (tennis) - 21 Grand Slam titles, including seven singles, twelve women's doubles and two mixed doubles Quotes from select vignettes: Summer Sanders on Dara Torres: "Dara Torres, the woman that just keeps on kicking. Dara is amazing. She's the mama Energizer Bunny. I don't know how she does it. She has motivated an entire generation and beyond." Billie Jean King on Venus Williams: "We've been fighting that fight since 1968. So, here she is in 2007 at Wimbledon, holding up the plate, getting equal prize money and she helped make that happen." Each vignette is introduced by ESPN's Hannah Storm, and includes footage and/or still action photos, along with video, from past or present coaches, teammates or a respected authority from within the women's sports world. The top 10 female athletes will be revealed during the 11 p.m. weeknight SportsCenter (June 11-22), culminating with the No. 1 female athlete of the past 40 years announced Friday, June 22 - one day prior to the 40th anniversary of Title IX (June 23). espnW.com<http://espn.go.com/espnw/title-ix/> will provide an in-depth look at every athlete as chosen by an industry-wide blue-ribbon panel and based on athletic achievement. espnW.com has been the digital destination for ESPN's The Power of IX initiative. Previously announced athletes: No. 40 Fu Mingxia (diving), No. 39 Julie Krone (jockey), No. 38 Mary Lou Retton (gymnastic), No. 37 Cammi Granato (ice hockey), No. 36 Kristine Lilly (soccer), No. 35 Diana Taurasi (basketball), No. 34 Flo Hyman (volleyball), No. 33 Abby Wambach (soccer), No. 32 Mary T. Meagher (swimming), No. 31 Joan Benoit (track), No. 30 Gail Devers (track), No. 29 Nancy Lieberman (basketball) and No. 28 Grete Waitz (runner). The 24 voters: Val Ackerman, Christine Brennan, Doris Burke, Jim Caple, Linda Cohn, Luke Cyphers, Anita DeFrantz, Sue Enquist, Chris Fowler, Jemele Hill, Johnette Howard, Sally Jenkins, Richard Lapchick, Nicole LaVoi, Donna Lopiano, Jackie MacMullan, Juliet Macur, Chris McKendry, Kathryn Olson, Robin Roberts, Le Anne Schreiber, Hannah Storm, Judy Sweet and Lesley Visser. 69. Flo (Flora) Hyman, Volleyball 1954-1986 Best U.S. volleyball player of all time   Hyman was one of U.S. Volleyball's brightest stars.  Ronald C. Modra Widely considered to be the best player in the history of the U.S. women's volleyball program, Flo Hyman was known for her awe-inspiring spiking abilities, her equally strong defensive skills and her personal integrity and charisma. In 1974, after her junior season at the University of Houston, the 6' 5" hitter and three-time All-America left school to join the national program in Colorado -- an organization that was barely holding together. Though the U.S. squad operated without a coach for three months in 1975 and failed to qualify for the 1976 Montreal Olympics, Hyman stuck with the team and saw her dedication pay off two years later when the Americans finished fifth at the world championships. After a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Games, Hyman and her teammates finally got their chance to participate in the Olympics in 1984, only to lose to China in the gold-medal match. After the Los Angeles Games, Hyman moved to Japan to play professionally. She became a star overseas, but at age 31 collapsed and died of heart failure during a match. The autopsy of her body revealed that Hyman suffered from Marfan's syndrome, a congenital disorder that usually affects tall, thin people; her condition had gone undetected. Hyman's dedication to sports and to the fight for equal athletic opportunities for women is remembered by and honored with the Flo Hyman Memorial Award, given annually by the Women's Sports Foundation to female athletes who capture Hyman's "dignity, spirit and commitment to excellence." They said it: "I had to learn to be honest with myself. I had to recognize my pain threshold. When I hit the floor, I have to realize it's not as if I broke a bone. Pushing yourself over the barrier is a habit. I know I can do it and try something else crazy. If you want to win the war, you've got to pay the price." --Hyman --Nancy Foley Athletes were selected by Sports Illustrated For Women, Sports Illustrated and CNN/SI editors, writers and correspondents who considered the athletes' on-field performance and achievements, plus their contributions to women's sports. Because athletic achievement was a key criterion, women whose contributions were made solely in administration and coaching are not included.

University of Kentucky Volleyball Player Stephanie Klefot Set to Begin A2 Training June 26

University of Kentucky Volleyball Player stephanie Klefot Set to Begin A2 Training June 26

Senior is two-time SEC Libero of the Year

COLORADO SPRINGS, Co. – Senior libero Stephanie Klefot is one of 48 athletes set to train with the United States Women’s National A2 Team Program beginning June 26 in Columbus, Ohio.

The 2012 U.S. Women’s National A2 Team program was selected through the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts held Feb. 10-12 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. A record 207 athletes participated in the tryout.

In addition to the new competition format, the U.S. Women’s National A2 Program expanded from 36 players to 48 players in 2012.

The 48 U.S. Women’s National A2 Team Program players hail from 34 different collegiate programs. The A2 program includes eight liberos, 12 middle blockers, 14 outside hitters, six opposites and eight setters.

Training begins June 26 at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, while the matches will be held June 30 to July 4 during the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships (GJNC) at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. During the pre-tournament training session, the 48 athletes will be divided into four teams of 12 players that will play one match per day during the GJNC. All matches will be A2 competing against each other in a round-robin format followed by a semifinal and final round.

Klefot garnered second-team All-America accolades after a record-setting junior campaign in which she broke the single-season Kentucky digs record with 608. She is the reigning two-time Southeastern Conference Libero of the Year after pacing the league in digs per set in each of the past two seasons. In just three seasons of action she already ranks third among UK’s all-time performers in career digs.

The Wildcats begin their 2012 season playing host to the Kentucky Classic and welcoming North Carolina ford the lid lifter on August 24 at 7 p.m. ET in Memorial Coliseum.

Visit UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information on the UK volleyball team and all of Kentucky’s 22 teams.

 

Former Huskers Named to World Grand Prix Preliminary Roster

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Former Huskers Named to World Grand Prix Preliminary Roster

Colorado Springs, Colo. – USA Volleyball announced on Monday that former Huskers Jordan Larson and Nancy Metcalf were named to the U.S. Women’s National Team Preliminary Roster for the 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix.

 

The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team is ranked No. 1 in the world and will reduce the 25-player roster closer to the start of the event on June 8. The team, which has already qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games, will open competition against Germany in a Pool B match in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

 

Metcalf is a 2004 Olympian and a three-time AVCA First-Team All-American at Nebraska. Larson was a three-time All-American who led the Huskers to three NCAA Semifinals appearances.

 

 

 

Aly Squires, Kristin Winkler Selected to U.S. Women's National A2 Team Program

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Aly Squires, Kristin Winkler Selected to U.S. Women's National A2 Team Program

IRVINE, Calif --- Aly Squires (Santa Ynez/Santa Ynez Valley Union HS) and Kristin Winkler (Los Altos/St. Francis HS) have been selected to the U.S. Women’s National A2 Team Program.

The A2 program has invited 48 athletes from 34 different collegiate institutions and this year’s group is comprised of eight liberos, 12 middle blockers, 14 outside hitters, six opposites and eight setters. The team was selected through the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts held Feb. 10-12 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Coaching the 2012 U.S. Women’s National A2 Team Program are Northwestern University’s Keylor Chan, San Diego State University’s Deitre Collins-Parker, Georgia Tech’s Tanya Johnson, Pepperdine University’s Nina Matthies and Cal State Northridge’s Jeff Stork. One additional coaching position will be filled at a later date.

Training will begin June 26 at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, while the matches will be held June 30 to July 4 during the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships (GJNC) at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. During the pre-tournament training session, the 48 athletes will be divided into four teams of 12 players that will play one match per day during the GJNC. All matches will be A2 competing against each other in a round-robin format followed by a semifinal and final round

Athletes in college and with collegiate eligibility remaining for the 2012 collegiate season not selected to join the U.S. Women’s National Team were eligible for the U.S. Women’s A2 program.

 

Indiana Volleyball Player Ashley Benson Chosen to Train with USA National Team Coaching Staff

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Indiana Volleyball Player Ashley Benson Chosen to Train with USA National Team Coaching Staff

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Ashley Benson has been invited to spend the next three months training with the USA Women's Volleyball National team coaching staff; including head coach Hugh McCutcheon and assistant coach Karch Kiraly. Benson was one of 12 seniors, whom have exhausted their collegiate eligibility, to be selected for the 2011 Winter Training Block out in Anaheim, Calif.

"This gives me a great opportunity to push myself and experience a higher level of volleyball," said Benson. "I'm excited to be trained by some of the best coaches in the country.

"It also gives me the chance to fulfill a dream of mine, playing in the Olympics. Being around the coaches every day and showing them what I have to offer is very exciting."

Benson's three-month trip out to Southern California, beginning Jan. 17, will include intense training sessions five days a week, taking place inside the American Sports Center in Anaheim. It serves as a chance to not only learn the techniques of the international game and possibly compete in Hong Kong, but also gets her name into the mix for the USA Women's National Team. Travel, lodging, equipment and most meal costs will all be paid for by USA Volleyball.

Benson will return to Bloomington for summer classes before completing her degree during the fall semester. She then plans to continue working with USA Volleyball or heading overseas to begin her professional career.

Kari Pestolesi, Juliane Piggott to Train with U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team

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Kari Pestolesi, Juliane Piggott to Train with U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team

IRVINE, Calif. --- Outside hitters Kari Pestolesi (Huntington Beach/Edison HS) and Juliane Piggott (Newport Beach/UCLA) have been selected to train with the U.S. Women’s National Team from Jan. 17 through mid-April at the American Sports Centers in Anaheim, Calif.
 
Twelve players will participate in the three-month session while additional players may be added to the roster during the training block.
 
Pestolesi, UCI’s first four-time All-Big West first-team selection, leaves the program second in the career records in kills with 1,602 and digs with 1,491. Pestolesi was a three-time AVCA All-West Region choice and was also recognized as an AVCA All-American honorable mention in 2009. She led the Anteaters this season with a 2.92 kill average, posting 301 kills to go along with 352 digs. Pestolesi will also see training time at libero in Anaheim.
 
Piggott, a 2009 AVCA All-American honorable mention, recorded 252 kills and averaged 2.84 per set this past season. She topped the team with 21 aces and was fourth with 36 total blocks. Piggott, a 2009 All-Big West honoree, participated in the U.S. Women’s National A2 program and helped the USA A2 Blue capture a gold medal at the USA Volleyball Open National Championships last summer.
The U.S. Women’s National Team is led by Hugh McCutcheon and he is assisted by Karch Kiraly and UC Irvine women’s head coach, Paula Weishoff. U.S. Women’s National Training Team Roster
Player (Position, Hometown, College)
Kayla Banwarth (L, Dubuque, Iowa, Nebraska)
Ashley Benson (MB, Bloomington, Ind., Indiana)
Kindra Carlson (Opp, Eaton, Colo., Washington)
Lauren Gibbemeyer (MB, St. Paul, Minn., Minnesota)
Jenna Hagglund (S, West Chester, Ohio, Washington)
Naomi Johnson (MB, Bloomington, Minn., Northwestern)
Carli Lloyd (S, Bonsall, Calif., California)
Becky Perry (OH, Austin, Texas, Washington)
Kari Pestolesi (OH/L, Huntington Beach, Calif., UC Irvine)
Juliane Piggott (OH, Newport Beach, Calif., UC Irvine)
Kaitlin Sather (OH, Santa Rosa, Calif., UCLA)
Lexi Zimmerman (S, Barrington, Ill., Michigan)

Huskers Volleyball Team: Jordan Larson and Nancy Metcalf Picked for National Team

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Huskers Volleyball Team: Larson and Metcalf Picked for National Team
 
Lincoln - Former Huskers Jordan Larson and Nancy Metcalf will each represent the United States at the upcoming FIVB World Championships after the two were selected to the 14-player national team on Tuesday, Oct. 26. Larson was one of four outside hitters pick by Head Coach Hugh McCutheon, while Metcalf is one of three players that will be used at opposite. The FIVB World Championships will take place Oct. 29 to Nov. 14 and are held every four years in the second year of the Olympic quadrennial.
 
 “There were some extremely difficult decisions to make in selecting the final World Championship roster,” McCutcheon said. "We've now developed some depth across all positions and, as a result, it's been a very competitive training block. It was tough to determine the final 14, but we think we have selected the best team we can to represent our country at these World Championships. We are excited to go to Japan and compete.”
 
The FIVB World Championship first round has six teams in four pools playing a round-robin schedule with the top four teams in each pool advancing to the second round for crossover play. The U.S. is grouped in Pool C at Matsumoto with Cuba, Germany, Kazakhstan, Thailand and Croatia. In the second round, Pool C crosses over with Pool B (Brazil, Italy, Netherlands, Kenya, Puerto Rico and Czech Republic) to form Pool F in Nagoya. The semifinals and finals will be played in Tokyo on Nov. 13-14.
 
The Americans open the FIVB World Championship against Thailand on Oct. 29 at 4:15 p.m. Japan Time (2:15 a.m. CT). The U.S. challenges Croatia on Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. Japan Time (11 p.m. CT on Oct. 29) and Germany on Oct. 31 at 6 p.m. Japan Time (4 a.m. CT) before an off day. Pool C concludes with the U.S. facing Kazakhstan on Nov. 2 at 6:45 p.m. Japan Time (4:45 a.m. CT) and NORCECA rival Cuba on Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. Japan Time (4 a.m. CT).
 
According to the FIVB World Ranking released on Aug. 30, the U.S. is ranked second in the world behind top-ranked Brazil. The Americans’ first-round pool has No. 6 Cuba, No. 12 Thailand, No. 15 Germany, No. 16 Kazakhstan and No. 45 Croatia.
 
The U.S. will leave for Japan on Oct. 21 and train in the city of Shiga leading up to the start of the World Championship. Team USA will scrimmage Toray, reigning champion of the Japanese V-League, on Oct. 26 before leaving for Matsumoto. Barboza played for Toray last season.
 
A total of 96 teams took part in the continental qualifying rounds for the FIVB World Championship. Among the 96 teams, 22 countries advanced to the Final Round in Japan. The 22 qualified teams, in addition to defending champion Russia and the host Japan, will compete for this year’s title.
 
The Americans qualified for the FIVB World Championship by winning the FIVB World Championship NORCECA Pool G Qualification Tournament held July 6-8, 2009, in Orlando, Fla. Team USA swept Netherlands Antilles, Barbados and Costa Rica in the third-round qualification event.
 
The U.S. Women’s National Team holds a 21-9 record in 2010 with three podium finishes, highlighted by winning the 2010 FIVB World Grand Prix held Aug. 6-29. Earlier this year the Americans earned the silver medal at the Montreux Volley Masters and the bronze at the Pan American Cup.
 
The U.S., currently ranked second in the world by the FIVB, has medaled at the FIVB World Championship four times. Team USA earned the silver medal at the 2002 World Championship in Berlin and the 1967 World Championship in Tokyo. The Americans captured the bronze in the 1990 World Championship in Beijing and the 1982 World Championship in Lima, Peru.
 
At the most recent FIVB World Championship held in Japan in 2006, the U.S. finished in a disappointing ninth place.
 
In its most recent tournament, the U.S. Women’s National Team captured the 18th FIVB World Grand Prix title with a 5-0 record in the Final Round following its sweep of Japan on Aug. 29. Earlier, the U.S. defeated Poland, Italy, Brazil and China in the Final Round.
 

Former Penn State Volleyball Players Alisha Glass and Megan Hodge Help Team USA Qualify for FIVB Final Round

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Former Penn State Volleyball Players Alisha Glass and Megan Hodge Help Team USA Qualify for FIVB Final Round

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., Aug. 23, 2010 – Former Nittany Lion women’s volleyball players Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) and Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) guided the U.S. Women’s National Team to three victories in Pool G Play of the 18th FIVB World Grand Prix in Hong Kong over the weekend. Team USA qualified for the FIVB Final Round for the first time since 2008.
 
On Friday, Aug. 20 the U.S. women defeated Germany 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-13). Glass tallied two blocks, one kill and one ace for four points. She also recorded 29 running sets while guiding Team USA to a .409 hitting efficiency. The win earned the team a spot in the FIVB Final Round.
 
The U.S. faced Thailand on Saturday and secured a 25-16, 25-16, 25-16 win. Glass put down three kills and had two blocks and an ace, while also registering 10 running sets. Hodge contributed three kills and an ace in the win.
 
Team USA closed out Pool G play with a 3-1 (25-20, 25-10, 22-25, 25-22) victory against China on Sunday. Glass had two kills, one block and an ace for four points, as well as 22 running sets.
 
Glass, Hodge and Nicole Fawcett, who is also a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team, were four-year members of the Penn State women's volleyball team under head coach Russ Rose. Fawcett aided the Nittany Lions in back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2007 and 2008, while Hodge and Glass closed out their Nittany Lion careers guiding PSU to an unprecedented third straight national title in 2009.
 
U.S. Women’s National Team Roster for 2010 World Grand Prix
1- Oganna Nnamani (Opp., 6-1 Bloomington, Ill., Stanford)
2 – Alisha Glass (S, 6-0, Leland, Mich., Penn State)
5 – Stacy Sykora (L, 5-10, Burleson, Texas, Texas A&M)
6 – Nicole Davis (L, 5-4, Stockton, Calif., USC)
7 – Heather Bown (MB, 6-3, Yorba Linda, Calif., Hawaii)
8 – Cynthia Barboza (OH, 6-0, Long Beach, Calif., Stanford)
9 – Jennifer Tamas (MB, 6-4, Milpitas, Calif., Pacific)
11 – Jordan Larson (OH, 6-2, Hooper, Neb., Nebraska)
14 – Nicole Fawcett (Opp., 6-4, Zanesfield, Ohio, Penn State)
16 – Foluke Akinradewo (MB, 6-3, Plantation, Fla., Stanford)
17 – Nellie Spicer (S, 5-9, Barrington, Ill., UCLA)
18 – Megan Hodge (OH, 6-3, Durham, N.C., Penn State)
19 – Destinee Hooker (Opp., 6-4, San Antonio, Texas, Texas)

Former Nittany Lions Volleyball Player Alisha Glass Guides Team USA to Three Victories in FIVB World Grand Prix

Former Nittany Lions Volleyball Player Alisha Glass Guides Team USA to Three Victories in FIVB World Grand Prix

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., Aug. 16, 2010 – Former Nittany Lion women’s volleyball player Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) guided the U.S. Women’s National Team to three victories in Pool D Play of the 18th FIVB World Grand Prix in Bangkok, Thailand over the weekend.
 
The U.S. women, now 4-2 in the World Grand Prix and in fifth place with 12 points, opened the second weekend of play with a 3-1 (26-28, 26-24, 25-23, 25-15) win against Italy on Friday, Aug 13. Glass tallied one kill while registering 80 running sets as the starting setter.
 
Team USA moved on to Thailand on Saturday, Aug. 14 and earned a 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-13) sweep. Glass handled 49 running sets and had three blocks and two kills for five points in the victory.
 
The U.S. women closed out Pool D play with a 3-1 (21-24, 24-22, 25-12, 25-15) triumph against Puerto Rico on Sunday, Aug. 15. In addition to her 52 running sets, Glass posted one block and one ace.
 
Next week, the U.S. women travel to Hong Kong for the final preliminary round weekend. The U.S. takes on Germany on Aug. 20, Thailand on Aug. 21 and China on Aug. 22. At the conclusion of next weekend’s preliminary round, the top five teams in the overall standings, plus China, advance to the six-team FIVB World Grand Prix Final Round held on Aug. 25-29 at Ningbo, China.
 
Fans in the U.S. can watch all remaining USA matches on Universal Sports (www.universalsports.com <http://www.universalsports.com> ) on a tape delayed same-day coverage.
 
Glass, as well as Nicole Fawcett and Megan Hodge who are also members of the U.S. Women’s National Team, were four-year members of the Penn State women's volleyball team under head coach Russ Rose. Fawcett aided the Nittany Lions in back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2007 and 2008, while Hodge and Glass closed out their Nittany Lion careers guiding PSU to an unprecedented third straight national title in 2009.
 
U.S. Women’s National Team Roster for 2010 World Grand Prix
1- Oganna Nnamani (Opp., 6-1 Bloomington, Ill., Stanford)
2 – Alisha Glass (S, 6-0, Leland, Mich., Penn State)
5 – Stacy Sykora (L, 5-10, Burleson, Texas, Texas A&M)
6 – Nicole Davis (L, 5-4, Stockton, Calif., USC)
7 – Heather Bown (MB, 6-3, Yorba Linda, Calif., Hawaii)
8 – Cynthia Barboza (OH, 6-0, Long Beach, Calif., Stanford)
9 – Jennifer Tamas (MB, 6-4, Milpitas, Calif., Pacific)
11 – Jordan Larson (OH, 6-2, Hooper, Neb., Nebraska)
14 – Nicole Fawcett (Opp., 6-4, Zanesfield, Ohio, Penn State)
16 – Foluke Akinradewo (MB, 6-3, Plantation, Fla., Stanford)
17 – Nellie Spicer (S, 5-9, Barrington, Ill., UCLA)
18 – Megan Hodge (OH, 6-3, Durham, N.C., Penn State)
19 – Destinee Hooker (Opp., 6-4, San Antonio, Texas, Texas)

Head Coach: Hugh McCutcheon
Assistant Coach: Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coach: Jim Stone
Trainer: Jill Wosmek
Technical Coordinator: Jamie Morrison
Team Leader for Poland/Thailand: Reed Sunahara
Team Leader for Hong Kong/Japan: Laurel Iversen
 
2010 FIVB World Grand Prix Schedule
Pool A (Sao Carlos, Brazil * Ginasio Nilton Olaio Filho)
Aug. 6: Brazil def. Chinese Taipei, 25-15, 25-19, 25-12
Aug. 6: Japan def. Italy, 30-28, 27-29, 25-20, 25-13
Aug. 7: Brazil def. Japan, 25-20, 25-19, 25-20
Aug. 7: Italy def. Chinese Taipei, 25-15, 25-20, 25-19
Aug. 8: Italy def. Brazil, 25-22, 25-21, 18-25, 25-19
Aug. 8: Japan def. Chinese Taipei, 25-16, 25-16 25-16
 
Pool B (Gdynia, Poland * Gdynia Competition Hall)
Aug. 6: USA def. Dominican Republic, 26-24, 22-25, 25-14, 25-19
Aug. 6: Poland def. Germany, 25-18, 16-25, 25-22, 26-24
Aug. 7: Poland def. Dominican Republic, 25-23, 25-16, 25-14
Aug. 7: Germany def. USA, 25-23, 25-22, 16-25, 25-23
Aug. 8: Poland def. USA, 16-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-23
Aug. 8: Germany vs. Dominican Republic, 7:15 p.m.
 
Pool C (Chengdu, China * Sichuan Provincial Sports Bureau)
Aug. 6: Netherlands def. Thailand, 25-22, 25-22, 25-23
Aug. 6: China vs. Puerto Rico, 25-20, 25-18, 25-22
Aug. 7: Netherlands def. Puerto Rico, 25-9, 25-12, 25-21
Aug. 7: China def. Thailand, 25-16, 25-16, 25-22
Aug. 8: China def. Netherlands, 19-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-21
Aug. 8: Puerto Rico def. Thailand, 25-22, 25-23, 25-21
 
Pool D (Bangkok, Thailand * Keelawes 2)
Aug. 13: USA def. Italy, 26-28, 26-24, 25-23, 25-15
Aug. 13: Thailand def. Puerto Rico, 23-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-19
Aug. 14: Italy def. Puerto Rico, 25-12, 25-17, 25-18
Aug. 14: USA def. Thailand, 25-81, 25-21, 25-13
Aug. 15: USA def. Puerto Rico, 21-25, 25-22, 25-12, 25-15
Aug. 15: Italy def. Thailand, 21-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-20
 
Pool E (Macau, China * Forum de Macau)
Aug. 13: Brazil def. Dominican Republic, 25-14, 25-18, 25-14
Aug. 13: China def. Netherlands, 25-16, 25-19, 25-16
Aug. 14: Brazil def. Netherlands, 25-21, 21-25, 25-15, 26-24
Aug. 14: Dominican Republic def. China, 25-20, 20-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-9
Aug. 16: Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic, 1 p.m. (postponed from Aug. 15)
Aug. 16: China vs. Brazil, 3:30 p.m. (postponed from. Aug. 15)
 
Pool F (Okayama, Japan * Okayama Momotaro Arena)
Aug. 13: Poland def. Chinese Taipei, 25-16, 25-19, 25-15
Aug. 13: Japan def. Germany, 26-28, 25-17, 25-20, 25-11
Aug. 14: Germany def. Chinese Taipei, 25-19, 25-14, 25-19
Aug. 14: Japan def. Poland, 25-19, 25-21, 19-25, 25-16
Aug. 15: Poland def. Germany, 25-23, 25-23, 29-31, 25-20
Aug. 15: Japan def. Chinese Taipei, 28-26, 25-15, 25-11
 
Pool G (Hong Kong, China * Hong Kong Coliseum)
Aug. 20: USA vs. Germany, 3 p.m.
Aug. 20: China vs. Thailand, 8 p.m.
Aug. 21: USA vs. Thailand, 1:15 p.m.
Aug. 21: China vs. Germany, 3:45 p.m.
Aug. 22: Germany vs. Thailand, 1:15 p.m.
Aug. 22: USA vs. China, 3:45 p.m.
 
Pool H (Taipei, Chinese Taipei * Taiwan University Gym)
Aug. 20: Brazil vs. Puerto Rico, 3:30 p.m.
Aug. 20: Poland vs. Chinese Taipei, 7 p.m.
Aug. 21: Puerto Rico vs. Poland, 2:30 p.m.
Aug. 21: Chinese Taipei vs. Brazil, 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 22: Brazil vs. Poland, 2:30 p.m.
Aug. 22: Chinese Taipei vs. Puerto Rico, 4:30 p.m.
 
Pool I (Tokyo, Japan * Yoyogi National Stadium)
Aug. 20: Italy vs. Netherlands, 3:30 p.m.
Aug. 20: Japan vs. Dominican Republic, 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 21: Dominican Republic vs. Netherlands, 2 p.m.
Aug. 21: Japan vs. Italy, 7 p.m.
Aug. 22: Dominican Republic vs. Italy, 2 p.m.
Aug. 22: Japan vs. Netherlands, 5 p.m.
 
Final Round (Ningbo, China * Ningbo Beilun Gymnasium)
Aug. 25-29: Teams TBA

 

Megan Hodge, Alisha Glass and Nicole Fawcett Aid U.S. Women’s National Team in 18th FIVB World Grand Prix

Megan Hodge, Alisha Glass and Nicole Fawcett Aid U.S. Women’s National Team in 18th FIVB World Grand Prix

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., Aug. 9, 2010 – Former Nittany Lion women’s volleyball players Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.), Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Ohio) and Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) aided the U.S. Women’s National Team during the opening weekend of preliminary pool play of the 18th FIVB World Grand Prix in Gdynia, Poland.
 
The U.S. women opened the World Grand Prix with a 26-24, 22-25, 25-14, 25-19 win against the Dominican Republic on Aug. 6. Hodge posted 12 kills, one block and an ace for 14 points, while Glass contributed 28 running sets, 16 digs, two aces and a block. Fawcett tallied one kill in the match. Head coach Hugh McCutcheon started Hodge at outside hitter and Fawcett at opposite. Glass subbed in during the first set and was the starting setter during the final three sets.
 
On Saturday, Team USA suffered a 25-23, 25-22, 16-25, 25-23 loss to Germany. Hodge put down 12 kills and had four blocks for a total of 16 points, while also registering 13 digs. Glass had one block and one kill with 14 digs and 40 running sets.
 
The U.S. closed out the first weekend with a 16-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-23 setback to Poland on Sunday. Hodge, who started on the outside, had 11 kills, three blocks and 16 digs. Glass, the starting setter, had 41 running sets and 16 digs in the match.
 
Next week, the U.S. women head to Bangkok, Thailand for the second weekend of preliminary round play and will face Italy, Thailand and Puerto Rico. The U.S. concludes pool play in Hong Kong with matches against Germany, Thailand and Chain on Aug. 20-22.
 
Nittany Lion fans can plan to watch the former Penn Staters play in two matches, including the Aug. 13 match against Italy and the Aug. 22 match versus China thanks to FIVB TV. The matches will be streamed live on http://www.laola1.tv/en/int/fivb/video/203---.html.
 
Glass, Fawcett and Hodge were four-year members of the Penn State women's volleyball team under head coach Russ Rose. Fawcett aided the Nittany Lions in back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2007 and 2008, while Hodge and Glass closed out their Nittany Lion careers guiding PSU to an unprecedented third straight national title in 2009.
 
U.S. Women’s National Team Roster for 2010 World Grand Prix
1- Oganna Nnamani (Opp., 6-1 Bloomington, Ill., Stanford)
2 – Alisha Glass (S, 6-0, Leland, Mich., Penn State)
5 – Stacy Sykora (L, 5-10, Burleson, Texas, Texas A&M)
6 – Nicole Davis (L, 5-4, Stockton, Calif., USC)
7 – Heather Bown (MB, 6-3, Yorba Linda, Calif., Hawaii)
8 – Cynthia Barboza (OH, 6-0, Long Beach, Calif., Stanford)
9 – Jennifer Tamas (MB, 6-4, Milpitas, Calif., Pacific)
11 – Jordan Larson (OH, 6-2, Hooper, Neb., Nebraska)
14 – Nicole Fawcett (Opp., 6-4, Zanesfield, Ohio, Penn State)
16 – Foluke Akinradewo (MB, 6-3, Plantation, Fla., Stanford)
17 – Nellie Spicer (S, 5-9, Barrington, Ill., UCLA)
18 – Megan Hodge (OH, 6-3, Durham, N.C., Penn State)
19 – Destinee Hooker (Opp., 6-4, San Antonio, Texas, Texas)

Head Coach: Hugh McCutcheon
Assistant Coach: Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coach: Jim Stone
Trainer: Jill Wosmek
Technical Coordinator: Jamie Morrison
Team Leader for Poland/Thailand: Reed Sunahara
Team Leader for Hong Kong/Japan: Laurel Iversen
 
2010 FIVB World Grand Prix Schedule
Pool A (Sao Carlos, Brazil * Ginasio Nilton Olaio Filho)
Aug. 6: Brazil def. Chinese Taipei, 25-15, 25-19, 25-12
Aug. 6: Japan def. Italy, 30-28, 27-29, 25-20, 25-13
Aug. 7: Brazil def. Japan, 25-20, 25-19, 25-20
Aug. 7: Italy def. Chinese Taipei, 25-15, 25-20, 25-19
Aug. 8: Italy def. Brazil, 25-22, 25-21, 18-25, 25-19
Aug. 8: Japan def. Chinese Taipei, 25-16, 25-16 25-16
 
Pool B (Gdynia, Poland * Gdynia Competition Hall)
Aug. 6: USA def. Dominican Republic, 26-24, 22-25, 25-14, 25-19
Aug. 6: Poland def. Germany, 25-18, 16-25, 25-22, 26-24
Aug. 7: Poland def. Dominican Republic, 25-23, 25-16, 25-14
Aug. 7: Germany def. USA, 25-23, 25-22, 16-25, 25-23
Aug. 8: Poland def. USA, 16-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-23
Aug. 8: Germany vs. Dominican Republic, 7:15 p.m.
 
Pool C (Chengdu, China * Sichuan Provincial Sports Bureau)
Aug. 6: Netherlands def. Thailand, 25-22, 25-22, 25-23
Aug. 6: China vs. Puerto Rico, 25-20, 25-18, 25-22
Aug. 7: Netherlands def. Puerto Rico, 25-9, 25-12, 25-21
Aug. 7: China def. Thailand, 25-16, 25-16, 25-22
Aug. 8: China def. Netherlands, 19-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-21
Aug. 8: Puerto Rico def. Thailand, 25-22, 25-23, 25-21
 
Pool D (Bangkok, Thailand * Keelawes 2)
Aug. 13: USA vs. Italy, 3 p.m.
Aug. 13: Thailand vs. Puerto Rico, 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 14: Puerto Rico vs. Italy, 2 p.m.
Aug. 14: USA vs. Thailand, 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 15: USA vs. Puerto Rico, 3 p.m.
Aug. 15: Italy vs. Thailand, 5:30 p.m.
 
Pool E (Macau, China * Forum de Macau)
Aug. 13: Brazil vs. Dominican Republic, 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 13: China vs. Netherlands, 9 p.m.
Aug. 14: Brazil vs. Netherlands, 2 p.m.
Aug. 14: China vs. Dominican Republic, 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 15: Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic, 1 p.m.
Aug. 15: China vs. Brazil, 3:30 p.m.
 
Pool F (Okayama, Japan * Okayama Momotaro Arena)
Aug. 13: Chinese Taipei vs. Poland, 3 p.m.
Aug. 13: Japan vs. Germany, 6 p.m.
Aug. 14: Germany vs. Chinese Taipei, 2 p.m.
Aug. 14: Japan vs. Poland, 5 p.m.
Aug. 15: Germany vs. Poland, 2 p.m.
Aug. 15: Japan vs. Chinese Taipei, 5 p.m.
 
Pool G (Hong Kong, China * Hong Kong Coliseum)
Aug. 20: USA vs. Germany, 3 p.m.
Aug. 20: China vs. Thailand, 8 p.m.
Aug. 21: USA vs. Thailand, 1:15 p.m.
Aug. 21: China vs. Germany, 3:45 p.m.
Aug. 22: Germany vs. Thailand, 1:15 p.m.
Aug. 22: USA vs. China, 3:45 p.m.
 
Pool H (Taipei, Chinese Taipei * Taiwan University Gym)
Aug. 20: Brazil vs. Puerto Rico, 3:30 p.m.
Aug. 20: Poland vs. Chinese Taipei, 7 p.m.
Aug. 21: Puerto Rico vs. Poland, 2:30 p.m.
Aug. 21: Chinese Taipei vs. Brazil, 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 22: Brazil vs. Poland, 2:30 p.m.
Aug. 22: Chinese Taipei vs. Puerto Rico, 4:30 p.m.
 
Pool I (Tokyo, Japan * Yoyogi National Stadium)
Aug. 20: Italy vs. Netherlands, 3:30 p.m.
Aug. 20: Japan vs. Dominican Republic, 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 21: Dominican Republic vs. Netherlands, 2 p.m.
Aug. 21: Japan vs. Italy, 7 p.m.
Aug. 22: Dominican Republic vs. Italy, 2 p.m.
Aug. 22: Japan vs. Netherlands, 5 p.m.
 
Final Round (Ningbo, China * Ningbo Beilun Gymnasium)
Aug. 25-29: Teams TBA


 
 

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