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IPFW men's volleyball completes weekend sweep of Mount Olive

2012-01-29T00:48:08Z

The News-Sentinel staff reports
Saturday, January 28, 2012 - 4:38 pm

The IPFW men's volleyball team completed a weekend sweep against Mount Olive College as the Mastodons defeated the Trojans 29-27, 25-20, 25-17 on Saturday morning in Mount Olive, N.C.

IPFW outside attacker Anthony Randolph making his first start of the season had a match-high 12 kills in the victory. Coach Arnie Ball said earlier this week that he hoped to give Randolph some playing time during the two-match sereis against Mount Olive.

Ball did not play a majority of his traditional starters in this match, including resting freshman setter Omar Rivera and outside attacker Phil Peterson.

IPFW (5-3, 0-0 MIVA) opened its two-match non-conference series against Mount Olive (2-4, 1-0 Conference Carolinas) with a four-game victory on Friday

The Mastodonds with the series sweep improves its road record to 4-2.

In a closely played first games, the teams battled and forth until IPFW gained the lead at 18-17. On the following play, Ivan Matos notched a kill to put the Mastodons ahead by two, forcing a Trojan timeout. Mount Olive responded well out of the break, taking the game into overtime. A late kill from Randolph gave IPFW a 28-27 advantage, before a Trojan error on game point handed the visitors a 29-27 first-game win.

IPFW jumped out to a 15-9 lead in the second game. The Mastodons continued to feed the middle of its offense in the game, where Corey Frain and Ramon Burgos teamed up for five kills. When IPFW earned game point at 24-20, Frain earned the serve and tagged a service ace to clinch the game, 25-20.

In the third game, the Mastodons once again earned the lead at 15-12. The three-point deficit by Mount Olive would be the closest they would come, as IPFW picked up kills from Burgos and Eddie Rivera to force a match-point. On the final play of the match, Frain blasted a kill off a pass from Adam Quinn to cement the IPFW win.

Burgos finished with eight kills and a match-high .727 attack percentage in the victory.

Quinn managed a game-high 45 assists, while Jonathan Meyer earned 13 digs in the road win.

IPFW recorded a .394 hitting-percentage against the Trojans, dropping a .500 mark in set two alone. Each team totaled five service aces Saturday.

The Mastodons will return to action on when they open MIVA play against No. 7 Lewis at 7 p.m. Friday at the Gates Sports Center.

Argentine women begin Continental Cup countdown

2012-01-27T21:40:09Z

Mar del Plata, Argentina, January 27, 2012 – The Argentina women’s beach volleyball team kicked off their quest for a ticket to the London 2012 Olympic Games on Monday when they began training in Mar del Plata.

Ana Gallay, Virginia Zonta, Luciana Forguez and Gabriela Albano are all scheduled to step out for their country at the CSV Beach Volleyball Continental Cup final later this year with a berth to the Games at stake. Standing in their way will be tandems from Brazil, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Working under Pablo Bernardi, the man in charge of all national beach volleyball teams, the foursome are training at San Sebastián Resort.

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U.S. Men's Update: Holt's Upset in Italy

2012-01-27T21:38:23Z

B.J. Hoeptner Evans
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 26, 2012) – U.S. middle blocker Max Holt (Cincinnati, Ohio) and his Italian Serie A League team Copra Elior Piacenza scored an upset victory over Lube Banca Marche Macerata, 25-19, 25-18, 20-25, 25-20 on Jan. 22.Holt scored nine points on four kills, four blocks and one ace as Piacenza, ranked 11th in the league, defeated second-place Macerata.

U.S. setter Donald Suxho (Korce, Albania) helped his Italian team Sisley Belluno to a 19-25, 25-20, 25-17, 27-25 victory over Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia on Jan. 22. Suxho scored three points on one attack, one block and one ace. He also set his team to a 51.0 kill percent and a 0.429 hitting efficiency.

Belluno is in sixth place in the league and Vibo Valentia is in eighth.

U.S. opposite Evan Patak (Pleasanton, Calif.) led his Italian team Energy Resources San Giustino with 24 points as it took a 25-21, 32-34, 25-20, 20-25, 15-9 victory over U.S. middle blocker Theo Brunner (Ridgefield, Conn.) and CMC Ravenna on Jan. 22.

Patak scored on 19 attacks (41.3 kill percent, .370 hitting efficiency), one block and four aces. U.S. setter Riley McKibbin (Honolulu, Hawaii) started the first set and scored one point on a kill. Brunner scored 12 points on nine attacks (60.0 kill percent, .600 hitting efficiency), two blocks and one ace.

San Giustino is in 12th place in the league while Ravenna is 14th.

U.S. outside hitter Matt Anderson (West Seneca, N.Y.) and Casa Modena fell to Acqua Paradis Monza Brianza, 28-26, 25-22, 25-18 on Jan. 22. U.S. outside hitter Sean Rooney (Wheaton, Ill.) did not play in the match due to a minor injury (according to the team’s coach).

Anderson scored six points on five attacks and one ace. Modena is in fourth place in the league and Monza Brianza is in fifth.

Monza Brianza played Modena again on Jan. 25 in the quarterfinals of the Italian Cup on Jan. 25. This time, Anderson’s team came out on top, 35-33, 25-21, 25-27, 25-17.

Anderson finished with 22 points on 19 attacks (59.3 kill percent, .531 hitting efficiency), one block and two aces. He also had 27 receptions with 67 percent considered “positive.”

Rooney started the final two sets for Monza Brianza and scored seven points on four attacks and three blocks.

Suxho and Belluno defeated Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo, 25-22, 21-25, 25-16, 25-22 on Jan. 25. Suxho scored eight points on three attacks and a match-high five blocks.

POLAND

Jastrzębski Węgiel, the Plus Liga team of U.S. middle blocker Russell Holmes (Fountain Valley, Calif.) and setter Brian Thornton (San Clemente, Calif.), advanced to the final match of the Polish Cup where it lost to PGE Skra Belchatow, 25-16, 25-20, 25-19 on Jan. 22.

In the semifinals, Belchatow defeated U.S. outside hitter Paul Lotman (Lakewood, Calif.) and his Polish team Asseco Resovia Rzeszow, 21-25, 26-24, 25-23, 25-23 on Jan. 21. Lotman scored eight points on seven attacks and one block. He also led the team in positive and excellent receptions.

To view photos from the match, click here.

RUSSIA

U.S. outside hitter Reid Priddy (Richmond, Va.) and his Russian Super League team Zenit Kazan continue to lead the league’s east division with a perfect 12-0 record following victories over Kuzbass Kemerovo (25-18, 25-19, 25-22) on Jan. 21 and Gazprom Ugra (21-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-23) on Jan. 25.

Against Kemerovo, Priddy scored nine points on four kills, four blocks and one ace. Against Ugra, he scored 15 points on 13 attacks (46.0 kill percent and .464 hitting efficiency), one block and one ace.

U.S. setter Lloy Ball (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and Ural Ufa are in fourth place in the east division after winning their last five matches. On Jan. 21, Ural defeated Ugra, 24-26, 25-19, 25-22, 25-22. Ball scored five points on two attacks and three blocks and also set the team to a 49.1 kill percent and .417 hitting efficiency.

On Jan. 25, Ural beat Lokomotiv-Izumrud Ekaterinburg, 25-16, 25-18, 25-16. Ball had three points on an attack and two blocks and set his team to a 53.7 kill percent and a .493 hitting efficiency.

GERMANY

U.S. outside hitter Scott Touzinsky scored 12 points on nine kills (41.0 kill percent, .364 hitting efficiency), one block and two aces as his German league team Berlin Recycling Volleys defeated TV Buhl on Jan. 21, 25-15, 25-17, 25-22.

U.S. setter Kawika Shoji (Honolulu, Hawaii) also started the entire match for Berlin, scoring two points on two attacks and setting the team to a 51.2 kill percent and a .465 hitting efficiency. U.S. outside hitter Cory Riecks (Auburn, Calif.) played as a substitute for Buhl, but did not score.

Berlin is in third place in the league and Buhl is in fourth.

FRANCE

Tourcoing, which includes U.S. setter Jonathan Winder (Irvine, Calif.) and outside hitter Jayson Jablonsky (Yorba Linda, Calif.), defeated Narbonne on Jan. 20, 25-19, 25-21, 21-25, 19-25, 15-12 on Jan. 20. Jablonsky started all five sets and scored 10 points. Tourcoing is in fifth place in the league.

U.S. middle blocker David Smith (Saugus, Calif.) and Tours have fallen to second place in the league after losing to U.S. outside hitter Robert Tarr (Cape Canaveral, Fla.) and Cannes on Jan. 21, 25-17, 25-21, 21-25, 25-21.

Tarr finished with 17 points on 16 kills and one block. Smith scored six points on four attacks and two blocks.

SWITZERLAND

U.S. coach Shawn Patchell is the head coach for the Lausanne University Club in the Swiss league and has three U.S. players on his team: middle blocker Andy Hein (Carol Stream, Ill.), outside hitter Andrew Stewart (Sandy, Utah) and opposite Evan Romero (Miami Lakes, Fla.).

Lausanne is in fifth place in the league. On Jan. 21, it defeated VBC Münchenbuchsee, 25-6, 25-14, 25-15.

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Q & A with Dagenais: Rising Junior Class

2012-01-27T21:35:53Z

Jan. 26, 2012
By Eric DeSalvo
UCFAthletics.com

ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The rising junior class features an All-American outside hitter and a solid defensive specialist as Angelica Crump (Atlanta, Ga.) and Roxy Mendez (Caguas, Puerto Rico) turned in impressive 2011 campaigns.

Crump finished the 2011 season 22nd in the nation in kills per set (4.34) and 42nd in points per set (4.60), earning her AVCA Honorable Mention All-America status and All-Conference USA First Team honors. As for Mendez, her situational defense aided the Knights to averaging 15.38 digs per set, nearly a dig per set better than opponents faced.

Head coach Todd Dagenais shared his thoughts on the two rising juniors.

On Angelica Crump...

"Angelica established herself as one of the premier attackers in the country last year, easily one of the top 50 overall. She still has two years left and is probably operating at 25% of what she is going to be when it is all said and done. Speeds of attack, approach angels, arm-swing changes and ball manipulation are all things she hasn't touched on yet. When she does, she is going to become an elite attacker. Not to mention the blocking that is coming along. She is becoming an all-around player.

"It is really exciting to look at someone like that and say `Wow she is just a sophomore.' People say that athletes have a sophomore slump, but she had a sophomore slugfest. We are looking for her to continue to be one of the top attackers in the conference and hopefully land herself on one of the top three All-America teams next year."

On Roxy Mendez...

"Roxy is another one of those players who has come in and filled a roll very much like Dani (Harrison). What's nice about Roxy is as soon as we see a need plug, that is where she goes. Roxy has really made herself a very versatile player for us and she is continuing to grow and get more confident. Her defensive instincts are probably amongst the best, if not the best, of our back-row core. We are just trying to hone those instincts and make them a little more game-like for her. I really see her stepping into some big rolls after Meredith (Murphy) graduates."

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Beach volleyball put on ice during off season in Gstaad

2012-01-27T21:24:31Z

Gstaad, Switzerland, January 26, 2012 – Athletes on the FIVB Beach Volleyball SWATCH World Tour will be hoping for slightly better conditions in the Swiss mountain resort of Gstaad than those in this picture from last weekend when the 1to1 Energy Grand Slam takes place from July 2 to 8.

Although conditions are far from perfect now, the town will install the artificial beach closer to the tournament, which has become one of the most popular events on the calendar having featured 12 times on the women’s circuit and 11 on the men’s. It was also the host of the 2007 Swatch World Championships, with the women’s tournament won by USA’s Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Wash and the men’s crown scooped up by compatriots Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers.

Of course, despite being scheduled for the moderate Swiss summer, the tournament did experience one freak hailstorm on the final day of the women’s tournament two years ago, with play delayed for three hours.

The 2012 Tour will feature a total of 14 events in 15 countries over a seven-month period, including a record-breaking nine Grand Slam tournaments, increasing from six in 2011.

There will also be eight Open events, six of which will be single-gender competitions.

With total prize money of $7.3 million on offer, the FIVB Beach Volleyball SWATCH World Tour 2012 will also include Grand Slams offering $600,000 prize money in Beijing, Moscow, Rome, Stavanger, Klagenfurt, Stare Jablonki as well as Shanghai, which has been upgraded from an Open, event and Berlin which may return to the calendar for the first time since 2008.

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IPFW men's volleyball hopes to grow sport with road trip to N.C.

2012-01-27T21:10:09Z

By Vinnie Lopes of The News-Sentinel
Friday, January 27, 2012 - 2:27 am

Arnie Ball in his 32 years with IPFW men's volleyball has coached in matches around the world, but this weekend will be the first time he and Mastodons will play in the Southeast portion of the United States.

IPFW will travel to North Carolina for a two-match non-conference weekend series against Mount Olive beginning at 7 p.m. Friday -- all in an effort to help increase interest in NCAA men's volleyball.

Mount Olive is a member of the Conference Carolinas, which is the newest conference to add men's volleyball.

"This is a new conference and we are trying to help them out a little bit," Ball said. "It's one of things you have to do to help our sport grow."

Less than 40 schools throughout the nation have a NCAA Division I-II men's volleyball team. Men's volleyball prior to the addition of the Conference Carolinas had three conferences: the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, which is comprised of West Coast teams.

The Conference Carolinas in 2009 became the first multi-sport Division II conference to sponsor men's volleyball and is considered an NCAA emerging conference for men's volleyball.

Ball said schools like IPFW from the top three conferences that are willing to schedule non-conference matches against Conference Carolinas teams makes it more enticing for other schools to add men's volleyball.

"There are so many young men that want to have a chance to play and there are very few places that let them play," Ball said. "Any time I have a chance to help fix that, I do so."

Ball said having matches against developing teams and conferences is something he learned and did during his college playing career at Ball State in the late-1960s. At that time men's volleyball was attempting to attract more programs in the hopes of becoming an NCAA sanctioned sport.

IPFW (3-3, 0-0 MIVA) is one of the five MIVA teams that will play Mount Olive (2-2, 1-0 Conference Carolinas) this season. In addition, three MIVA teams, including IPFW, will play road matches against Conference Carolinas schools.

The amount of schools willing to schedule non-conference matches against developing programs has contributed to the recent expansion of NCAA men's volleyball.

Three schools have added a Division I-II men's volleyball team since the Conference Carolinas sponsored men's volleyball. Lindenwood and Cal Baptist also announced in 2010 that they will begin transitioning from NAIA to NCAA Division I-II in men's volleyball.

The Conference Carolinas added its sixth men's volleyball member this season -- the minimum amount of teams needed for an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament -- and will be eligible for the four-team Division I-II men's volleyball NCAA Tournament starting in 2014.

Ball said a Conference Carolinas team soon being able to compete in the NCAA Tournament will be a good thing for the sport. He also said it could lead to possible expansion of the NCAA Tournament.

“I'm excited about the fact that we have a new conference developing,” Ball said.

Mount Olive, the two-time defending Conference Carolinas regular season champions, enters Friday's match against IPFW after sweeping Barton in its conference-opener on Wednesday. The Trojans in their only match this season against a MIVA team lost to Quincy in four games.

IPFW split a two-match homestand last week – including a five-game loss to George Mason, which received votes this week in the top 15 national coaches poll.

This upcoming road trip for IPFW, though, has created some logistical challenges.

The Mastodons left by bus for North Carolina on Thursday. The 13-hour bus trip is the longest road trip by bus for IPFW in recent history.

"It's a long way down there. I'm not sure why I scheduled these matches like it did," Ball jokingly said Thursday.

Despite the long trip, Ball said he is confident his team will be able to sweep this two-match series.

"It's a team that we should beat, but you never know when you are going on the road," he said.

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London 2012 Olympics: Beach Volleyball is most popular sport for ministers

2012-01-27T21:05:24Z

Rob McKinney

Beach Volleyball Examiner
January 26, 2012

Former Labour sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe asked officials if it was an oddity that government departments had bought 410 beach volleyball tickets, compared to just 246 for athletics.

But officials have insisted that there is an entirely innocent explanation for the disparity, claiming the decision was all about the timing of the events rather than an unhealthy interest in the outfits.

Jonathan Stephens, permanent secretary at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport explained that as the events mostly take place at the weekend, it would be more convenient for MPs diaries.

He said top sponsors could buy up to 13,500 tickets, but the Government had not taken up its full allocation, purchasing instead just 8,800 at a cost of £750,000.

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Nummerdor and Schuil strike gold in Aalsmeer

2012-01-27T21:01:56Z

Aalsmeer, Netherlands, January 26, 2012 - Home duo Reinder Nummerdor and Richard Schuil claimed gold at the second edition of the CEV indoor Satellite at “The Beach” in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands on January 15 after edging Poland’s Michal Kadziola and Jakub Szalankiewicz in the final 21-13, 21-17.

It didn’t take long for the three-time European champions to assert their supremacy in the final, despite the eagerness of the young Polish pair as they easily took the opening set. From there it was a simple win for the duo, with Nummerdor successfully defending the title he won in 2011 with then partner Jon Stiekema.

The battle for bronze was a tense affair with Swiss duo Patrick Heuscher and Jefferson Bellaguarda eventually gaining the upper hand against Dutch rising stars Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen. The home tandem punished their Swiss counterparts in the opening set 21-18 but Heuscher and Bellaguarda bounced back in the second 21-16 to take the match to a tie break where Heuscher made the difference by taking the score from 10-all to 13-10 with his floating serve and killing blocks. By then the final result was all but a formality as the pair clinched a 15-13 win to take the bronze medal.

The VISADE Women’s Invitational – an exhibition tournament which ran alongside the Satellite – saw Madelein Meppelink and Sophie van Gestel clinching a 21-17, 21-17 win over compatriots Merel Mooren and Jantine van der Vlist, while Dutch stars Sanne Keizer and Marleen van Iersel – winners of two stops on last year’s FIVB Beach Volleyball SWATCH World Tour – took bronze after edging Belgium’s Liesbeth Mouha and Katrin Gielen 16-21, 21-12, 15-12).

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Von Braun Center will be site of Super Regional volleyball tourney

2012-01-27T20:59:38Z

By Bill Bryant, The Huntsville Times
January 26, 2012

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.

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Brazilian teams in reshuffle ahead of 2012 season

2012-01-27T20:56:48Z

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, January 25, 2012 – Beijing 2008 Olympic Games silver medallist Marcio Araujo and FIVB Beach Volleyball SWATCH World Tour 2008 champion Pedro Salgado will join forces for the 2012 season while the latter’s two sisters, Carolina and Maria Clara, will split for the first time since 2003 after a number of Brazilian tandems were shaken up ahead of the start of the FIVB Beach Volleyball SWATCH World Tour.

Meanwhile, Marcio’s former partner, Fabio Luiz Magalhaes, will also have a new partner in two-time FIVB Beach Volleyball SWATCH Junior World Championship runner-up Alvaro Filho.

With Carolina set to take much of the season off to have her baby, Maria Clara will partner 2000 Sydney Olympic Games volleyball bronze medallist Raquel Peluci. Elsewhere, Olympian Renata Ribeiro will also have a new team mate after ending her partnership with Priscilla Lima. She will join 27-year-old Elize Maia, while Lima will team up with Izabel Bezerra.

Meanwhile, FIVB Beach Volleyball Men’s SWATCH world champions Alison Cerutti and Emanuel Rego; and Ricardo Santos and Pedro Cunha will turn out for the men and women’s Swatch world champions Juliana da Silva Felisberta and Larissa França; and Talita Antunes and Maria Elisa Antonelli step out for the women.

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Brazilian legend to coach youngsters

2012-01-27T20:53:33Z

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, January 25, 2012 – Brazilian beach volleyball legend Jackie Silva will put her experience to good use as she was named coach of the Brazilian women’s youth and junior teams last Friday.

The former player, who won gold at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, will help run the team alongside the experienced Jorge Barros as supervisor, and Marcos Antonio Albuquerque, the men’s coach.

The trio will follow the Brazilian U-19 and U-21 Tours in before choosing their team for the FIVB Youth and Junior World Championships in May. The observation period began in Joao Pessoa last weekend on the first stop of the U-19 circuit.

“Even when I was playing, somehow I worked as a coach, transmitting my experience to the young players I teamed with, such as Sandra, Talita, Maria Clara and Juliana,” Jackie said. “I am really happy to be part of this project as CBV is offering important support to the young players in the moment they most need of it, when they are not established yet.”

“The Youth World Championship will happen in Cyprus, in July, and the Junior will be in Canada, in August. The players will be selected and prepared by the technical staff to be in their best level in the competitions”, Tadeu Saad, Brazilian Federation Beach Volleyball Manager said.

With over four decades of experience in volleyball, including four years with the Brazilian women’s team and work with some of Brazilian beach volleyball top teams, Barros will coordinate the preparation. The former coach says that the main goal of the project is developing players for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

“Brazilian beach volleyball has several talented players spread all over the country,” he said. “We will permanently observe the U-19 and U-21 tours, detect the players with potential and the proper profile and work in their development focusing in 2016.”

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Navy's Carolyn Ewert overcame injury to lead Mids

2012-01-27T20:48:46Z

Jan. 24, 2012

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Navy junior volleyball outside hitter Carolyn Ewert has never let anything get in the way over her volleyball career.

She was told she was too short to play Division I volleyball, but the 5-foot-9 Bakersfield, Calif., native was starting as a freshman for Navy in 2009.

When she tore her ACL freshman year, she had to wonder about her future in the sport; and when she did it again and missed her entire sophomore season, she had to consider the fact that she may not be able to play volleyball again.

But she worked hard through rehab and finally returned to the court as a junior, where she led the Mids in kills during a healthy 2011 campaign.

Ewert was fortunate that she came to Navy.

"I didn't know if I was ever going to be able to play again," she said. "I was lucky that I go to Navy and my scholarship isn't dictated by playing sports. I don't know if another school would have had the time and patience to go through that."

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Volleyball named second best sport in Kenya

2012-01-27T20:47:03Z

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.

The Executive Committee meeting itself discussed how to communicate with potential sponsors about the dates of tournaments and possible sponsorship packages

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.

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Beach volleyball drill book launches in French and Spanish

2012-01-27T20:44:48Z

Lausanne, Switzerland, January 24, 2012 – The FIVB beach volleyball drill book, originally released by the FIVB Technical and Development Department last October, has now been translated into French and Spanish.

The book aims to help national federations and players as much as possible as the sport’s governing body looks to help develop the sport further around the world.

The publication also serves as teaching material for Volleyball Cooperation Programmes as well as a number of beach volleyball courses and has been developed in collaboration with FIVB beach volleyball instructor Hayden Jones from New Zealand as well as US-based beach volleyball player Daniel Dalanhese from Brazil.

For the French edition click hereand for the Spanish click here

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European Olympic qualifying groups announced in Sofia

2012-01-27T20:42:56Z

Sofia, Bulgaria, January 24, 2012 – The battle lines for the Men’s European Continental Olympic Qualification tournament were drawn on Friday after the two pools were decided at a special ceremony in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The eight teams will clash for just one place to the London 2012 Olympic Games from May 8 to 13 at “Arena Armeets” in Bulgaria’s capital city.

The hosts will take on Serbia, Spain and Slovenia in Pool A while Pool B features European heavyweights Italy, Germany and Finland alongside Slovakia.

The first and second ranked team from each Pool will play crossed semifinals (1A v 2B and 1B v 2A) before the finals. Russia and Poland have already qualified for the Games after finishing first and third at the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Cup 2011 in Japan.

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U.S. Women’s National Team Update for Jan. 22

2012-01-27T20:40:01Z

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.

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