U.S. Youth National Team, Round 2, match 2

The United States Girls' Youth National Team picked up its second straight win at the 2009 FIVB Girls' Youth World Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, a 3-0 (25-9, 25-19, 25-15) victory over Tunisia on July 9.

The United States, buoyed by momentum from their hard-fought five-set victory against Slovakia the day before, played nearly flawless volleyball. It committed only 11 errors, and out-blocked winless Tunisia 13-3.

Six-foot-one middle blocker Catherine Bell (Mesquite, Texas) led the U.S. squad with 10 kills and 6-foot-2 outside hitter Carly Wopat (Goleta, Calif.), sealed the net and helped out the defense with 7 blocks in the straight set victory. 

Read More at USA Volleyball 

U.S. Youth National Team, Round two, match one.

The United States Girls' Youth National Team earned its first victory in an exhausting five setter 25-18 19-25 21-25 25-16 15-4 over Slovakia.  Outside hitter, 6-foot-3 Haley Eckerman (Waterloo, Iowa) topped the kills list with 25 on 57 attempts.  Starting setter, 5-foot-11 Carly Thomas (Swansea, Ill.) led the team in digs with seven, closely followed by libero Jennifer Bonilla (Reseda, Calif.) with six.

Read more on the FIVB website.

By Christine Jinbo

The United States Girls' Youth National Team participated in the FIVB Girls' Youth World Championship in Nakhonratchasima Thailand, from July 3 through July 12.  USA Volleyball evaluated players across the country born in the  years, 1991-1992 or before, to comprise the U.S. team.

These 16 and 17 year old girls, mostly high school juniors and seniors traveled an average distance of over 7,500 miles to Nakhonratchasima, Thailand to participate in the FIVB event.  Nakhonratchasima, known to the locals as "Khorat", is Thailand's largest province.  According to the Nakhonratchasima Population and Housing Census 2000, Nakhonratchasima has a population of approximately 2.5 million.  To put this in perspective, Los Angeles County (Calif.) has a population of 9.8 million (US Census Bureau, 2008). The distance between Nakhonratchasima and Los Angeles, Calif. is 8,144 miles.

To slow it down a little for those of us geographically challenged Americans, Thailand is below China, above Australia and East of Africa.  Agriculture is the main occupation in Nakhonratchasima, which includes farming of rice and other crops such as sugar cane, tapioca, corn, jute, peanuts, sesame and fruits.

In this rural environment, the Youth squad received an education, or as we say in America, "They got schooled."  The team compiled an overall record of 2-6 for a 12th place finish in the tournament.

Although the American squad suffered some bumps and bruises along the way, they learned a great deal and gained valuable experience for the future. Come back and read more about their trip to the other side of the world.

2009 U.S. Girls' Youth National Team
Name (Pos, Ht, Hometown, High School, Grad) 
Hannah Allison (S, 5-11, Siloam Springs, Ark., Siloam Springs, 2010) 
Katherine Bell (MB, 6-1, Mesquite, Texas, North Mesquite, 2011)  
Jennifer Bonilla (L, 5-9, Reseda, Calif., Marymount, 2010)  
Erica Denney (MB, 6-5, Centennial, Colo., Grandview, 2010)
Haley Eckerman (OH, 6-3, Waterloo, Iowa, Waterloo East, 2011) 
Anna Dorn* (MB, 6-4, Munster, Ind., Munster, 2010)  
Andrea McHugh (OH, 5-10, Yorba Linda, Calif., El Dorado, 2010)  
Madelyn Hutson (MB, 6-6, Brentwood, Tenn., Ravenwood, 2011)  
Katie Messing (OH, 6-4, The Woodlands, Texas, The Woodlands High School, 2011)  
Olivia Okoro (MB, 6-0, Carrollton, Texas, Hebron, 2011) 
Carly Thomas (S, 5-11, Swansea, Ill., Althoff Catholic, 2010) 
Samantha Wopat (OH, 6-1, Goleta, Calif., Dos Pueblos, 2010) 
Carly Wopat (OH, 6-2, Goleta, Calif., Dos Pueblos, 2010) 
 

Posted by Christine Jinbo

USA Junior National Beach Team member, Will Montgomery sends more updates from accross the ocean where he is in the The Hague, Netherlands participating in the 2008 Youth SWATCH FIVB World Championships.

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Posted by Christine Jinbo

USA Junior National Beach Team member, Will Montgomery along with teammate Jeff Carlson, sends us a blog from accross the ocean where they are in the The Hague, Netherlands with updates from the 2008 Youth SWATCH FIVB World Championships.  The American teams of Will Montgomery/Maddison McKibbin, Jeff Carlson/Tony Ciarrelli, Tara Roenicke/Caitlin Ledoux and Lara Dykstra/Jocelyn Neely are representing the U.S. in the tournament.

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By Christine Jinbo

After years of little league, youth basketball, peewee football and club volleyball many parents and spectators have a difficult time understanding the rules unique to beach volleyball specifically the self-officiating and no coaching rules.

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