2006 NORCECA Girls Youth Championships Come To O'Connell Center July 25-30
Thursday, July 13, 2006 | Volleyball
The 2006 NORCECA (North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation) Girls' Youth Continental Championship (U-18) will be contested July 25-30 at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on the campus of the University of Florida.
The top three finishing teams in the tournament qualify for the 2007 FIVB Girls' Youth World Championship (U-18). United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico and Puerto Rico are entered in this year's NORCECA Girls' Youth Continental Championship vying for a spot in next year's FIVB Girls' Youth World Championship.
Adult ticket prices for the event will be $7 for daily passes during pool play (July 25-29) and $10 for the medal round (July 30). Adult all-event ticket prices start at $35 for the entire tournament, $30 for July 26-30, $25 for July 27-30, $20 for July 28-30. The all-event ticket price for children 12-and-under is $20 for the entire event with prices decreasing $5 per day until it reaches $10. Daily pass price for children 12-and-under is $5.
University of Florida and Santa Fe Community College students will pay the under 12 rate with a valid student identification card.
Tickets for the event can be reserved by calling the Gainesville Sports Organizing Committee at (352) 338-9300 with cash or check payments accepted at “Will Call.” Tickets can also be purchased at the venue each day of the tournament.
The 18-member U.S. Girls' Youth National Team training roster began training in Gainesville on Sunday and will continue through July 23. The final 12-member roster for the NORCECA Girls' Youth Continental Championship will be determined prior to the tournament.
All members of this year's Girls Youth National Team training roster are new to the squad. Kanani Herring (Ewa Beach, Hawai'i) and Alexandra Hunt (Granger, Ind.), both born in Jan. 1990, are the two oldest members of the team. Falyn Fanoimoana (Hermosa Beach, Calif.), born March 13, 1992, is the youngest member of the squad. Teams can currently have 18 players on its training roster, but must be down to the maximum 12-player roster by July 24.
The United States coaching staff will be led by Wingate University Head Women's Volleyball Coach Shelton Collier. He has served the last two seasons as head coach of the USA Women's Junior National Team, but has experience leading this age group in the past. Collier was head coach of the USA Girls' Youth National Team in 2003 when the squad finished fourth at the FIVB Girls' Under-18 World Volleyball Championship.
Collier will be assisted by Susan Woodstra, the head women's volleyball coach at Humboldt State University, and Frank Lavrisha, the head women's volleyball coach at Regis University (Colo.). Rich Zeciski, USAV coordinator of high performance indoor national programs, will serve as the team manager.
The U.S., using its Girls Youth National Team, finished fourth at the 2005 FIVB Youth U-18 World Championships at Macau, China. Team USA qualified for the 2005 World Championships by winning the gold medal at the 2004 NORCECA Girls' Youth Continental Championships with a 4-0 record in Puerto Rico. The U.S. last hosted the NORCECA Girls' Youth Continental Championship in 2002 at Salt Lake City, Utah.
2006 U.S. Girls' Youth National Team Training Roster
Name (POS, Ht, H.S. Graduation, Hometown, Club, Birthday)
Rachel Adams (MB, 6-4, 2008, Cincinnati, Ohio, Team Z, 10-5-90)
Michelle Bartsch (MB, 6-3, 2008, Collinsville, Ill., Southwest Illinois, 2-12-90)
Kendall Bateman (S, 6-0, 2008, Manhattan Beach, Calif., TCA, 6-15-90)
Kelsey Brandl (MB, 6-4, 2008, Lakeville, Minn., Minnesota M1, 5-6-90)
Katherine Douglas (OH, 6-1, 2009, Woodside, Calif., City Beach, 4-23-91)
Natalie Emro (S, 6-1, 2008, Munster, Ind., Dunes VBC, 5-7-90)
Falyn Fanoimoana (OH, 6-3, 2010, Hermosa Beach, Calif., Roxy Beach, 3-13-92)
Kanani Herring (OH, 5-9, 2008, Ewa Beach, Hawai'i, Imi Ike, 1-2-90)
Alexandra Hunt (OH, 6-0, 2008, Granger, Ind., Dunes VBC, 1-8-90)
Kathryn Kabbes (OH, 6-4, 2008, Cary, N.C., Triangle VBC, 2-2-90)
Kelsey Mahoney (S, 5-10, 2008, Fort Worth, Texas, TAV, 4-22-90)
Allison McNeal (MB, 6-2, 2008, Schulenberg, Texas, Texstar, 4-23-90)
Jordan Meredith (OH, 6-0, 2008, Honolulu, Hawai'i, Jammers, 3-4-90)
Tarah Murrey (OH, 6-3, 2008, El Cerrito, Calif., Golden Bear, 3-28-90)
Kelly Pang (L, 5-2, 2009, Honolulu, Hawai'i, Oahu Juniors, 3-23-90)
Chelsey Ringel (OH, 5-11, 2008, Arlington, Texas, TAV, 4-15-90)
Amy Webster (MB, 6-2, 2008, San Diego, Calif., EPIC VBC, 10-21-90)
Sydney Yogi (L, 5-2, 2008, Honolulu, Hawai'i, Asics Rainbow, 10-20-90)
Head Coach: Shelton Collier (Charlotte, N.C.)
Assistant Coach: Susan Woodstra (Arcata, Calif.)
Trainer: Frank Lavrisha (Denver, Colo.)
Team Manager: Richard Zeciski (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
