Former Gators Collymore, McGinnis On US Preliminary Roster for Grand Prix
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 | Volleyball
Former University of Florida volleyball players Jane Collymore (Seattle) and Angie McGinnis (Fraser, Mich.) have been named to the United States Women's National Volleyball Team's 19-player preliminary roster for the 2009 FIVB World Grand Prix, largely considered the premier annual international volleyball tournament for women, it was announced Tuesday.
The 2009 FIVB World Grand Prix involves 12 national teams playing a total of 69 matches over four consecutive weekends in 10 cities. The preliminary 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 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 vs. 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 overall top five teams from the three preliminary weekends plus host Japan advance to the FIVB World Grand Prix Finals to be held in Tokyo. The Finals format is five consecutive days of round-robin competition among the six participating teams.
Up to 14 players can be selected to compete in each FIVB World Grand Prix preliminary weekend and the final round, but they all must be included on the 19-player preliminary roster.
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.
U.S. Roster – FIVB World Grand Prix
1 – Nicole Fawcett (OH, 6-4, Zanesville, Ohio, Penn State)
2 – Elisha Thomas (MB, 6-3, Grass Valley, Calif., Long Beach State)
3 – Lauren Paolini (MB, 6-4, Ann Arbor, Mich., Texas)
4 – Angie McGinnis (S, 5-11, Fraser, Mich., Florida)
5 – Stacy Sykora (L, 5-10, Burleson, Texas, Texas A&M)
6 – Nicole Davis (L, 5-6, Stockton, Calif., Southern California)
7 – Angie Pressey (OH, 5-8, Lake Mary, Fla., California-Berkeley)
8 - Cynthia Barboza (OH, 6-0, Long Beach, Calif., Stanford)
9 – Alexis Crimes (MB, 6-3, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Long Beach State)
10 - Kristin Richards (OH, 6-1, Orem, Utah, Stanford)
11 - Jordan Larson (OH, 6-2, Hooper, Neb., Nebraska)
12 - Nancy Metcalf (OPP, 6-1, Hull, Iowa, Nebraska)
13 - Tracy Stalls (MB, 6-4, Denver, Colo., Nebraska)
14 - Heather Hughes (OPP, 6-2, Fallbrook, Calif., Loyola Marymount)
15 - Courtney Thompson (S, 5-7, Kent, Wash., Washington)
16 - Christa Harmotto (MB, 6-2, Aliquippa, Pa., Penn State)
17 - Nellie Spicer (S, 5-10, Barrington, Ill., UCLA)
18 – Foluke Akinradewo (MB, 6-3, Plantation, Fla., Stanford)
19 - Jane Collymore (OH, 5-11, Seattle, Wash., Florida)
Head Coach: Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand)
Assistant Coaches: Karch Kiraly (San Clemente, Calif.)
Technical Coordinator: Jamie Morrison (Dana Point, Calif.)
Athletic Trainer: Jill Wosmek
END OF REPORT
