July 28, 2009
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -
The U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team played two international tournaments on domestic soil (Pan American Cup at Miami and FIVB Women's World Championship Qualification Tournament at Orlando) in June and July with six Olympians playing key roles, but newcomers, including former Lion Heather Hughes, will take center stage during the upcoming FIVB World Grand Prix that begins on July 31.
U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) sees the World Grand Prix as a perfect opportunity to see what the younger players can do for the future of the program.
"We are at the beginning of the Olympic quadrennial and this seems like a very appropriate time to look at a new generation of athletes in order to see if they can help sustain and build on this program's success."
The preliminary 19-player roster, from which McCutcheon must select a maximum of 14 players per World Grand Prix stage, includes 2008 Olympic Games silver medalists Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.) and Stacy Sykora (Burleson, Texas) vying for the libero position. Nancy Metcalf (Hull, Iowa), a 2004 Olympic Games roster, and Heather Hughes (Fallbrook, Calif.) are the two pure opposites on the roster. At setter, Angela McGinnis (Fraser, Mich.), Courtney Thompson (Kent, Wash.) and Nellie Spicer (Barrington, Ill.) are the three players competing for spots on the final FIVB World Grand Prix roster.
Outside hitters on the preliminary roster include Cynthia Barboza (Long Beach, Calif.), Jane Collymore (Seattle, Wash.), Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Pa.), Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.), Angie Pressey (Lake Mary, Fla.) and Kristin Richards (Orem, Utah). The six middle blockers vying for court time for the U.S. in the World Grand Prix are Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.), Alexis Crimes (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Christa Harmotto (Aliquippa, Pa.), Lauren Paolini (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Tracy Stalls (Denver, Colo.) and Elisha Thomas (Grass Valley, Calif.).
Akinradewo, Barboza, Hughes, McGinnis, Richards and Stalls were all alternates on the U.S. 2008 Olympic Games roster and now are looking for their opportunity to shine in the upcoming Olympic quadrennial.
Although the preliminary roster is youthful in age and experience, it is not short on talent. Both Sykora and Davis walked away from the first two major tournaments in 2009 with individual hardware. Davis was the Best Digger during the Pan American Cup in which the U.S. finished fourth after winning Pool A with a 5-0 record. Sykora earned Best Libero, Best Digger and Best Receiver at the FIVB Women's World Championship Qualification Tournament - NORCECA Pool G held in Orlando. The liberos will provide leadership to the young squad.
The 2009 FIVB World Grand Prix involves 12 national teams playing a total of 69 matches over four consecutive weeks in 10 cities. The preliminary weekend rounds are set to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Kielce, Poland and Ningbo, China, on the first weekend, Miao Li, Chinese Taipei, Macau, China, and Osaka, Japan, the second weekend and Hong Kong, Mokpo, Korea and Bangkok, Thailand, the third weekend. The Final Round - composed of the top five teams plus host Japan - is a five-day round-robin event in Tokyo settling the overall title.
The U.S. Women's National Team opens the FIVB World Grand Prix at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as part of Pool A. The Americans begin the tournament versus Germany on July 31, followed by NORCECA rival Puerto Rico on Aug. 1. On Aug. 2, the FIVB will have its featured match of the preliminary round as top-ranked and 2008 Olympic Games gold medalist Brazil hosts second-ranked and 2008 Olympic Games silver medalist Team USA.
The U.S. Women travel from Rio de Janeiro to Miao Li, Chinese Taipei, the following weekend for Pool D action. Team USA plays NORCECA rival Dominican Republic on Aug. 7, Netherlands on Aug. 8 and Germany on Aug. 9.
The Americans conclude the preliminary action in Pool I Aug. 14-16 at Bangkok, Thailand. The U.S. Women face Russia on Aug. 14, Puerto Rico on Aug. 15 and host Thailand on Aug. 16.
"The travel is extensive in the World Grand Prix, but I think we have some strategies for that," McCutcheon said. "We will be playing some good teams and it will be good to see how our players compete under these trying circumstances."
During the trip, McCutcheon will be assisted by Karch Kiraly (San Clemente, Calif.) as assistant coach and Jamie Morrison (Dana Point, Calif.) as technical coordinator/team leader. Beth Launiere (Salt Lake City, Utah), the head women's coach at University of Utah, will serve as an assistant coach for the first two preliminary weekends. John Speraw (Irvine, Calif.), the head men's coach at UC Irvine and former assistant coach for the U.S. Men's National Team that won the 2008 Olympic Games gold medal, will serve as an assistant coach in the third weekend and the Final Round should Team USA advance.
The U.S. Women's National Team qualified for the 2009 FIVB World Grand Prix through the 2008 Pan American Cup in which the Americans were the third highest placing team from NORCECA.
For the complete release from USA Volleyball, please click here.
Universal Sports, a channel and website partnered with NBC that highlights Olympic Sports all year long, owns the exclusive US Internet rights for the upcoming 2009 FIVB World Grand Prix, and will be broadcasting the event from July 31st to August 23rd.
To follow Team USA at the FIVB World Grand Prix online via Universal Sports, please click here.
