HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Huntsville already plays host to the AHSAA state soccer and wrestling tournaments, as well as the North Super Regional softball tournament.

Add volleyball to the list after the AHSAA Central Board of Control on Wednesday approved the city as one of its two Super Regional sites for the sport's new postseason format, set to begin with the 2012-13 school year.

The Von Braun Center will be the site of the North Super Regional Oct. 26-27. Montgomery's new multi-purpose complex at Cramton Bowl was approved to host the South Super Regional, contingent on a site visit scheduled later this week.

The new volleyball playoff format will include three rounds beginning next season - area tournaments to be played any time Oct. 18-20; Super Regional tournaments with 96 teams in six classifications at the north site and 96 teams in six classifications at the south site Oct. 26-27; and the Elite Eight state tournament to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1

The new format streamlines the volleyball playoffs by combining two regional tournaments into one and eliminating the sub-state round, thus reducing travel costs. The 2012 format will advance the winner and runner-up from each area tournament to a Super Regional. The top four finishers in each Super Regional will then advance to the Elite Eight state tournament in each classification.

"We think this will elevate the championship program to a new level for volleyball and provide a memorable and positive experience for our student-athletes and schools," AHSAA Executive Director Steve Savarese said.

COBRA SPORTS

Jan. 24, 2012

Nairobi, Kenya, January 24, 2012 - Volleyball was named the second best sport in Kenya at the 2011 SOYA Awards, while Prisons women’s volleyball team, who represented Africa at the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Club Championship emerged as the best sports team of the year.

Meanwhile, the men's national team followed up on their bronze medal at the 2011 All Africa Games as they were named the second best national team of the year.

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) President Waithaka Kioni announced the at the first KVF National Executive Committee meeting of the year.

Kioni added that he appreciated the efforts of the federation throughout 2011.

The future of Kenyan volleyball proved promising following sound performances by local schools at the East Africa Secondary Schools Championships where Cheptil boys and Malava girls won the country regional trophies.

Malava finished up as second runners-up at the SOYA gala while Cheptil were among the top five nominees in the schools category.

On matters of volleyball development, attendants were told that the FIVB had sent to the federation 1,700 Mikasa balls to aid with youth development and that they would also send 700 nets.

It was decided that the balls were to distributed to various primary schools during provincial inter-primary school games and to select international schools having indoor facilities.

COBRA SPORTS

Bill Kauffman January 23, 2012

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 22, 2012) – The current U.S. Women's National Team Weekly update released on Jan. 22 includes briefs on U.S. players competing overseas and other team news.

SYKORA WITH VOLEI FUTURO IN BRAZIL: Stacy Sykora (Burleson, Texas) has returned to Brazil to compete with her club team Volei Futuro in the Brazil Superliga. While she did not play in Volei Futuro’s five-set loss to Sesi Sao Paulo on Jan. 17, Sykora returned to the court on Jan. 20 in her first official match since an April 2011 injury. As the starting libero, she helped her squad to a 27-25, 25-19, 20-25, 19-25, 15-13 victory over Sollys/Nestle on Jan. 20. Sykora, who was seriously injured in a bus accident during last spring’s Brazil Superliga playoffs, suited up for the season-opening match on Dec. 9 against Mackenzie, but had not been on the active roster until the Jan. 20 match.

HOOKER WITH SOLLYS/NESTLE IN BRAZIL: Destinee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas) is competing for Sollys/Nestle in the Brazil Superliga during the 2011-2012 club season. Hooker did not play in either her team’s matches last week, including three-set win over Esporte Clube Pinheiros on Jan. 16 and a five-set loss to Volei Futuro on Jan. 20. To follow Hooker in social media platforms, visit destineehooker19.blogspot.com for her blog or click here for her Facebook athlete page.

TOM WITH FENERBAHCE UNIVERSAL IN TURKEY: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah) is competing for Fenerbahce Universal of the Turkish League in 2011-2012. Tom scored 10 points with nine kills and a block in helping Fenerbahce to a 19-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-22 victory over second-place Eczacibasi Spor Kulubu (12-2) on Jan. 21. Fenerbahce improves to 14-0 on the season with 42 points. Fenerbahce ended the CEV Champions League Pool B League Round in first place after defeating Dresdner SC 25-23, 21-25, 25-15, 25-19 on Jan. 17. Tom pocketed eight kills on 25 attacks, three blocks and an ace for 12 points in helping Fenerbahce to a 5-1 record and 15 points in the first round. Fenerbahce advances to the 8th Final Round to face Czech Republic’s VK Modranska Prostejov in a home-and-home series with dates to be determined.

LARSON WITH DINAMO KAZAN IN RUSSIA: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) is competing for Dinamo Kazan of the Russia Super League. Kazan improved to 10-2 by defeating Tyumen Tyumen 25-21, 25-21, 25-18 on Jan. 22 in the 12th Round. Larson scored 12 points in the victory, including nine kills on 24 attempts with three blocks. Kazan, now in second place with 28 points in the Russia Super League, plays perennial powerhouse Dinamo Moscow (8-4, 25 points) on Jan. 26 and league-leader Dinamo Krasnador (9-3, 29 points) on Jan. 29 in its next two Super League matches this coming week. Kazan is also competing in the CEV Champions League and finished atop Pool C with 14 points and a 5-1 record, despite falling to Czech Republic’s VK Modranska Prostejov 25-18, 25-20, 22-25, 25-19 on Jan. 17 to close out the first round. Larson did not play in the match as the team had already secured the top spot in the pool. Kazan moves into the 8th Final Round for a home-and-home series against Dresdner SC. The series dates have not been announced. To read Larson’s blog, click here.

AKINRADEWO WITH DINAMO KRASNODAR IN RUSSIA: U.S. Women’s National Team middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.) is competing for Dinamo Krasnodar of the Russia Super League in 2011-2012. Krasnador improved to 9-3 in the Super League following a 26-24, 26-28, 25-10, 25-16 victory over Avtodor-METAR on Jan. 22. Krasnador, the Super League leader with 29 points, returns to Super League action on Jan. 26 against Severstal, followed by a Jan. 29 match against second-place Dinamo Kazan. Despite dropping a five-set match to Rote Raben Vilsbiburg on Jan. 19 in the CEV Cup 8th Final Round, Krasnodar came back to take a 16-14 victory in the Golden Set to advance to the CEV Cup 4th Final Round. Krasnodar will face Austria’s SVS Post Schwechat in a home-and-home series with dates to be determined.

BARBOZA, HARMOTTO WITH MODENA IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Cynthia Barboza (Long Beach, Calif.) and middle blocker Christa Harmotto (Hopewell, Pa.) are competing for LIU-JO Modena of the Italian Serie A1 in 2011-2012. Modena edged Rebecchi Nordmeccanica Piacenza 26-24, 21-25, 25-16, 25-22 on Jan. 22 to improve to 5-9 on the season with 17 points for eighth place. Harmotto totaled 10 kills on 20 errorless attacks to go with a match-high seven blocks for a total of 17 points. Barboza tacked on 11 kills on 24 swings in the victory, along with a 74 percent positive service reception on a team-high 34 chances. Modena challenges league-leader Yamamay Busto Arsizio (13-0, 38 points) on Feb. 5 in its next Serie A1 match after a break in the schedule for the Italian Serie A1 Cup quarterfinal round. In the Italian Serie A1 Cup, Modena has already advanced to the semifinal round with a quarterfinal round bye. They will face the winner of Yamamay Busto Arsizio and Asystel Volley Novara’s quarterfinal round challenge.

LLOYD WITH BUSTO ARSIZIO IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team setter Carli Lloyd (Bonsall, Calif.) is playing for Yamamay Busto Arsizio of the Italian Serie A1 for the 2011-2012 season. Yamamay Busto Arsizio remains undefeated in the Italian Serie A1 division after rallying to defeat Chieri Torino Volley Club 20-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-23 on Jan. 22. Lloyd came off the bench in the first and third sets while starting the fourth set against the division’s 10th-place team. She was credited with four blocks and two kills on three swings in her limited action on the court. Busto Arsizio (13-0, 38 points) returns to Serie A1 regular season action on Feb. 5 against ninth-place LIU-JO Volley Modena (5-9, 17 points). In CEV Cup action, Busto Arsizio completed the home-and-home series sweep of Azerbaijan’s Igtisadchi Baku with a 25-21, 20-25, 25-19, 18-25, 15-13 victory at Baku on Jan. 19. In the first set, Busto Arsizio bounced back from an 18-14 deficit with seven unanswered points en route to a 25-21 victory. In the third set, Baku led 9-5 only to have Busto Arsizio bounce back for a 25-19 victory. Busto Arsizio advances to the 4th Final Round home-and-home series against Poland’s Aluprof Bielsko Biala. Dates for the matches have not been determined.

KLINEMAN WITH PESARO IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Alix Klineman (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) is competing for Scavolini Pesaro of the Italian Serie A1 in the 2011-2012 club season. Klineman tallied a team-high 25 points in helping Pesaro to a 22-25, 30-28, 16-25, 25-16, 16-14 victory over Cariparma SiGrade Parma on Jan. 21. She notched 22 kills on a team-high 58 attacks to go with two aces and a block. Klineman handled 24 service receptions with a 50 positive percent. Pesaro finished the CEV Champions League Pool E with a 4-2 record and 12 points for second place after falling to Russia’s Dinamo Moscow 26-24, 25-18, 25-20 on Jan. 17. Klineman contributed seven kills and three aces as part of a 10-point performance. Pesaro advances to the CEV Champions League 8th Finals Round to face Italian rival Volley Bergamo in a home-and-home series starting on Jan. 27. Dates for both matches have not been finalized.

BERG, WILSON WITH VILLA CORTESE IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team setter Lindsey Berg (Honolulu) and past U.S. National Team player Makare Wilson (Gardena, Calif.) are playing for MC-Carnaghi Villa Cortese in the Italian Serie A1 in 2011-2012. Villa Cortese topped Chateaux d’Ax Urbino Volley 25-13, 23-25, 25-23, 25-21 on Jan. 22 to improve to 12-2 in the Serie A1 standings. Berg set her squad to a 42 kill percent with a .291 hitting efficiency while picking up a block of her own on defense. Wilson contributed nine kills on 16 attacks in the victory. Villa Cortese, now with 35 points and in second place in the Serie A, returns to Serie A1 action on Feb. 5 against ninth-place Cariparma SiGrade Parma (5-9, 16 points) after a weekend break for the Italian Serie A1 Cup. Villa Cortese faces Rebecchi Nordmeccanica Piacenza on Jan. 24 to start the Italian Serie A1 Cup quarterfinal round. Piacenza is 7-7 in the regular Italian Serie A1 series. In CEV Champions League action, Villa Cortese ended the League Round with eight points and a 2-4 record to finish in Pool A in third place after falling in five sets to group winner RC Cannes on Jan. 17. Neither Berg nor Wilson competed in the pool finale. Despite the loss and third-place finish, Villa Cortese advanced to the 8th Finals Round where it will face Russia’s Dinamo Moscow in a home-and-home series starting on Jan. 27. Dates for the matches have not been finalized.

DAVIS, RICHARDS WITH PIACENZA IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team libero Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.) and outside hitter Kristin Richards (Orem, Utah) are part of the Italian Serie A1 Rebecchi Nordmeccanica Piacenza squad in 2011-2012. Piacenza dropped a 26-24, 21-25, 25-16, 25-22 match to LIU-JO Volley Modena on Jan. 22. Davis was credited with a 78 positive service reception percent on 18 attempts without an error. Richards did not compete as she was traveling back to the United States to take care of family issues. Rebecchi Nordmeccanica Piacenza, 7-7 overall with 19 points for sixth place, faces MC Carnaghi Villa Cortese on Jan. 24 to start the Italian Serie A1 Cup quarterfinal round before resuming regular season play against 11th-place Riso Scotti Pavia (0-14, 1 point) on Feb. 5.

PAOLINI WITH ICOS CREMA IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team middle blocker Lauren Paolini (Ann Arbor, Mich.) is playing for Icos Crema Volley in the Italian Serie A2 Division for 2011-2012. For the second consecutive week, Icos Crema topped Infotel Forli 25-15, 25-14, 25-23 on Jan. 22 as Paolini slammed 17 kills on 22 attacks to go with four blocks for a 21-point performance in the three-set win. Icos Crema improved to 12-4 with 37 points in the Serie A2 standings for third place. The squad will face Rota Volley Mercato S. Severino (6-10, 18 points) on Jan. 29.

KIM GLASS, SPICER WITH RABITA BAKU IN AZERBAIJAN: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Kim Glass (Lancaster, Pa.) and setter Nellie Spicer (Barrington, Ill.) are competing for Rabita Baku of the Azerbaijan Super League. Rabita Baku finished the CEV Champions League first round Pool B with a 5-1 record and 15 points, but took second to Fenerbahce Universal based on tiebreakers. Rabita concluded Pool B with a 25-16, 25-20, 25-17 victory over ASPTT Mulhouse on Jan. 17. Neither Glass or Spicer competed in the match. Rabita Baku moves into the CEV Champions League 8th Final Round to face Poland’s Atom Trefl Sopot (second place in Pool C) in a home-and-home series with dates to be determined. After a long break in the Azerbaijan Super League, Rabita Baku topped Azeryolservis 25-16, 25-12, 25-10 to improve to 4-0.

BOWN, TAMAS WITH AZERRAIL BAKU IN AZERBAIJAN: U.S. Women’s National Team middle blockers Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Jennifer Tamas (Milpitas, Calif.) are playing for Azerrail Baku in the Azerbaijan Super League in 2011-2012. Azerrail Baku improved to 4-0 in the Azerbaijan Super League with a 15-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-16 victory over Baki on Jan. 22. In addition, Azerrail Baku finished the first round of the CEV Champions League Pool D with a 4-2 record and 13 points to finish in second place after topping 2004 Tomis Constanta 25-20, 25-16, 27-25. Bown connected for five kills on eight swings to go with two blocks and an ace for eight points. Tamas added four kills on nine errorless attacks, along with a block and ace for six points. Azerrail moves on the 8th Final Round to face Switzerland’s Volero Zurich (third place in Pool C) in a home-and-home series. Dates for the two contests have not been decided.

METCALF, THOMAS WITH LOKOMOTIV BAKU IN AZERBAIJAN: U.S. Women’s National Team opposite Nancy Metcalf (Hull, Iowa) and middle blocker Elisha Thomas (Grass Valley, Calif.) are playing for Lokomotiv Baku of the Azerbaijan Super League in 2011-2012. Lokomotiv Baku swept its CEV Challenge Cup 16th Final Round home-and-home series with Zok Split 1700 by winning the Jan. 18 match 25-15, 25-10, 25-18 in 64 minutes. Lokomotiv moves into the CEV Challenge Cup 8th Final Round to play Vizura Beograd with match dates to be determined. After a break in the Azerbaijan Super League, Lokomotiv came back to defeat Igtisadchi 26-24, 25-21, 25-20 on Jan. 22.

HANEEF-PARK WITH IGTISADCHI BAKU IN AZERBAIJAN: U.S. Women’s National Team opposite Tayyiba Haneef-Park (Laguna Hills, Calif.) is playing in the Azerbaijan Super League with Igtisadchi Baku in 2011-2012. Igtisadchi Baku lost to Yamamay Busto Arsizio 25-21, 20-25, 25-19, 18-25, 15-13 in the second match of a home-and-home series in the CEV Cup 8th Final Round. Igtisadchi lost its Azerbaijan Super League match with Lokomotiv 26-24, 25-21, 25-20 on Jan. 22.

HODGE, ALISHA GLASS WITH POLAND’S ATOM TREFL SOPOT: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) and setter Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.), both Penn State University products, are playing for Poland’s Atom Trefl Sopot in 2011-2012. Sopot (12-3) triumphed over Organika Budowlani 24-26, 25-20, 25-14, 25-18 on Jan. 21. Hodge scored 13 points with 11 kills on 27 swings and two blocks. She added a 53 positive service reception on 38 attempts. Glass set the squad to a 41 kill percent and a .256 hitting efficiency. Sopot faces KS Palac Bydgoszcz on Feb. 4 in its next PlusLiga match. In CEV Champions League action, Sopot ended the CEV Champions League first round Pool C with a 4-2 record and 10 points for second place after taking down Switzerland’s Volero Zurich 25-16, 23-25, 25-22, 22-25, 15-10 in the group finale. Hodge powered home a team-high 26 points with 21 kills on 34 swings, three aces and two blocks. Glass set the squad to a 42 kill percent and a .331 hitting efficiency. Sopot advances to the CEV Champions League 8th Final Round to face Azerbaijan’s Rabita Baku in a home-and-home series with dates to be announced. To read Glass’ blog, click here.

CRIMES, MIYASHIRO, LICHTMAN WITH POLAND’S BKS ALUPROF BIELSKO-BIALA: U.S. Women’s National Team middle blocker Alexis Crimes (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), spiker Cassidy Lichtman (Poway, Calif.) and libero Tamari Miyashiro (Kaneohe, Hawaii) are competing for BKS Aluprof Bielsko Biala in the Poland Plus Liga. Bielsko-Biala (11-5) edged Impel Gwardia Wroclaw 16-25, 25-18, 25-21, 17-25, 15-11 on Jan. 21. Miyashiro handled 24 service receptions with a 63 positive percent. Lichtman came off the bench in the first and fourth sets. Bielsko Biala returns to PlusLiga action on Feb. 5 against Budowlani Lodz. In the CEV Cup 8th Final Round opener, Bielsko-Biala defeated Uralochka-NTMK Ekaterinburg 27-25, 26-24, 25-17 to split the home-and-home series. In the Golden Set, Bielsko-Biala won 15-8 to earn the right to advance to the 4th Final Round to play Italy’s Yamamay Busto Arsizio in a home-and-home series. The two teams complete the home-and-home series on Jan. 18 at Bielsko Biala.

GIBBEMEYER WITH TOYOTA AUTO BODY IN JAPAN: U.S. Women’s National Team middle blocker Lauren Gibbemeyer is playing for Toyota Auto Body of the Japan V-League during the 2011-2012 club season. Toyota lost to Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical 25-19, 18-25, 25-23, 25-22 on Jan. 21. Gibbemeyer contributed 16 kills on 37 attacks and five blocks for 21 points. On the following day, Denso topped Toyota 25-20, 25-23, 25-23 as Gibbemeyer charted 10 kills on 32 attacks with one block and one ace for 12 points. Toyota, now 3-6 in the V-League and in sixth place, returns to action on Jan. 28 against Okayama, followed by a Jan. 29 match against Pioneer. Both matches will be played at Aichi.

THOMPSON, JONES, FORSETT WITH CATANO IN PUERTO RICO: U.S. Women’s National Team setter Courtney Thompson (Kent, Wash.), outside hitter Angie Forsett (Lake Mary, Fla.) and middle blocker Jessica Jones (Naperville, Ill.) are playing for Catano in the Puerto Rico Super League. The trio helped Catano edge Toa Baja 25-22, 22-25, 25-19, 17-25, 15-10 in their season opener on Jan. 20. Forsett scored 17 points with 16 kills and a block, while Jones added eight kills, six blocks and an ace for 15 points. Thompson turned in five points, including three blocks, to go with 28 assists. For the second night in a row, Catano needed five sets to defeat Mayaguez 25-21, 23-25, 19-25, 25-20, 15-10 on Jan. 22. Forsett notched 17 kills and two blocks for 19 points, while Jones provided 10 kills, six blocks and two aces for 18 points. Thompson handed out 27 assists in the victory.

OTHER AMERICAN HIGHLIGHTS IN PUERTO RICO: University of Florida products Kelly Murphy scored 16 points and Kristy Jaeckel tallied 10 points in their first professional match as Guaynabo topped Toa Baja in five sets. Toa Baja was led by Michelle Bartsch’s 18 points in her first professional match…Stephanie Neimer charted 16 points in leading Mayaguez to a three-set win over Bayamon on Jan. 18. Blair Brown added 14 points in the victory while Sydney Anderson set the squad to victory with 17 assists. Erin Moore led Bayamon with five points, while Kelly Wing and Kylie Atherstone added three and two points, respectively…Shonda Cole pounded out 19 points in leading Corozal to a three-set win over Carolina on Jan. 18. Ashley Benson scored 12 points in her first professional match for Corozal, while Julie Bennett added seven points. Diane Copenhagen totaled 10 points in the loss for Carolina…Caguas defeated Juncos in three sets on Jan. 19 as Brooke Delano scored seven points. In her return to volleyball, Kim Willoughby scored a match-high 12 points for Juncos, while Alex Zimmerman was credited with eight assists and two points in the loss…Airial Salvo hammered 25 points and Kelsey Black scored 12 points in her professional debut as Ponce edged Bayamon in five sets on Jan. 20. Erin Moore led Bayamon with a match-high 27 points, while Kelly Wing added 22 points and Atherstone three points…Brooke Delano provided Caguas with seven points as her team defeated Carolina in four sets on Jan. 21. Morgan Beck turned in 16 points for Carolina in the loss…Shonda Cole paced Corozal to a three-set win over Juncos on Jan. 21 with 18 points, while Julie Bennett added 14 points and Ashley Benson was credited with three points. Kim Willoughby notched 12 points in the loss, while Alex Zimmerman handed out seven assists to go with six points for Juncos…Kelsey Black and Airial Salvo scored 19 points apiece to help Ponce to a four-set win over Guaynabo to improve to 2-0 on the season. Kelly Murphy charted 16 points and 12 assists in the loss, while Kristy Jaeckel added 12 points…Michelle Bartsch scored 20 points in a five-set loss to Catano on Jan. 20…Blair Brown collected 19 points in Mayaguez’s five-set loss to Catano on Jan. 22, while Stephanie Neimer added nine points. Sydney Anderson collected 29 assists and three points in the loss.

COBRA SPORTS

Yaoundé, Cameroon, January 21, 2012 - Tunisia became the fifth team to secure a ticket to the London 2012 Olympic Games after they won the men's African Olympic Qualification tournament on Saturday, with a 3-1 (21-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-21) victory over hosts Cameroon on the fifth and final day at the Multipurpose Sports Complex in Yaoundé.

With the victory, Tunisia guaranteed a place at the Games for the sixth time after they competed in Munich 1972, Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988, Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004.

Meanwhile, Algeria picked up their first win on the last day of competition, beating Ghana in straight sets (25-15, 25-19, 25-18).

Tunisia topped the five nation tournament with a win-loss ratio of 4-0 followed by Egypt in second (3-1), Cameroon in third (2-2), Algeria in fourth (1-3) and Ghana at the bottom of the table (0-4).

Tunisia v Cameroon 3-1 (21-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-21)

Tunisia needed to dig deep after losing the first set to dispose of hosts Cameroon 3-1 (21-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-21).

Cameroon started well in the first, maintaining the lead throughout but Tunisia finally found their rhythm in the second, bringing the scores level at one apiece. The visitors carried this momentum into the third to take the lead for the first time in the match. The fourth was a tight affair, but the Tunisians efficient block and disciplined defence saw them take the match.

Cameroon coach Peter Nonnenbroich was gracious in defeat, saying that Tunisia were better on the day, although he also praised the determination of his own players.

“Cameroon is preparing for upcoming competitions and it was a chance here to prepare for future,” he added