U.S. Girls’ Youth Team Faces Daunting NORCECA Pool

Bill Kauffman
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 19, 2010) – The U.S. Girls’ Youth National Volleyball Team has dominated the NORCECA Girls’ Youth (U-18) Continental Championship since 1998 of the biennial event, but it understands 2010 will be no walk in the park to win its sixth title in seven tries as it competes in the event in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

The U.S. has won each of the last four NORCECA Girls’ Youth Continental Championships, in addition to the first-ever in 1998. Other than the United States, only Puerto Rico has stood on the podium with the gold medal around its necks in the age division for girls under age 18 – that being in 2000 when it topped the Americans in the title match.

Team USA is grouped in Pool C with Dominican Republic and Canada. Other groups include Pool A with Mexico, Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica. Pool B includes host Guatemala, Puerto Rico and El Salvador. NORCECA Sports Events Department will publish the preliminary round calendar early this week. The preliminary round pools are scheduled for April 27-29, with the quarterfinal round set for April 30. Semifinals will take place on May 1, followed by the medal round/classification matches on May 2.

USA Volleyball/Bill Kauffman Chloe Reinig passes during a training sesson on Jan. 1 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team Head Coach Jim Stone (Columbus, Ohio) identified his 12-player roster at a seven-day tryout held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, which concluded on Jan. 1. The selected outside hitters/opposites are Jordan Burgess (Tampa, Fla.), Mimi Eugene (Houston), Brittany Howard (Los Altos, Calif.), Angela Lowak (New Braunfels, Texas) and Andie Malloy (Allen, Texas). The middle blockers chosen for the team are Molly McCage (Spring, Texas), Chloe Reinig (Detroit, Mich.) and Shelby Sullivan (Richardson, Texas). The setters are Madison Bugg (Apex, N.C.), Allison Palmer (Laguna Beach, Calif.) and Lauren Sieckmann (Omaha, Neb.). Haley Pouliezos (Imperial, Mo.) was tabbed to the roster as the libero. Due to the versatility of the team’s talent, some of the players may train and compete at multiple positions.

“This is going to be a nice challenge for this group,” Stone said. “There will be one day of training, then competition will begin. They will need to get up to speed quickly. Obviously, with this type of limited training, most of the focus will be on our side of the net. Our offense will be very basic. The challenge will be how quickly can we learn to block and defend at the necessary level to be successful. This is a great collection of talent and I am sure they will represent the USA very well.”

USA Volleyball/Bill Kauffman Mimi Eugene attacks during a training session on Jan. 1 at the U.S Olympic Training Center with head coach Jim Stone watching. The two pool winners with best points-ratio will advance directly to the semifinal phase while the third first-place team will play in the quarterfinals against the second place teams. The top three teams in the NORCECA Girls’ Youth Continental Championship final standings earn a berth to compete in the 2011 FIVB Girls’ Youth World Championship, which will be staged in Turkey. In addition, the 2010 NORCECA Girls’ Youth Continental Championship winning team will earn a spot into the first-ever IOC Youth Olympic Games to be held in Singapore in August.

Currently, Mexico is ranked No. 1 in the NORCECA Girls’ Youth Division, which weights results from the most recent NORCECA and FIVB World Championship events for the age division. The U.S. is ranked second, followed by No. 3 Dominican Republic, No. 4 Puerto Rico and No. 5 Costa Rica. At last year’s FIVB Girls’ Youth World Championship, Mexico was the highest finishing team from NORCECA as it took ninth place. Dominican Republic was 11th, while the U.S. finished 12th.

To follow the 2010 U.S. Girls' Youth National Team at the NORCECA Girls' Youth Continental Championship, click here.

FUN FACTS: Mimi Eugene is the youngest player on the roster and will not turn 15 until November...Chloe Reinig is the tallest player on the team at 6-4...The average height of the team is 5-11 (181 centimeters)...Molly McCage has the highest spike touch at 118 inches (300 centimeters) and highest two-hand block at 122 inches (310 centimeters)...Five of the 12 players are from Texas with three competing in the Lone Star Region and two in North Texas Region...Brittany Howard's mother Eileen played on the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team from 1985-86 after a stellar career at University of the Pacific. She earned a bronze medal at the 1986 Goodwill Games...Madison Buggs' mother Robin played volleyball at University of Tennessee from 1980-84 and is a member of the Lady Vols Hall of Fame...Andie Malloy's father Robert played professional baseball with the Texas Rangers (1987-89) and Montreal Expos (1989-1991)...Lauren Sieckmann and Molly McCage are the only players to have verbaled to colleges. Sieckmann intends to go to Nebraska, while McCage is set to go to Texas...Lauren Sieckmann's father Tom played on the PGA Tour from 1984 to 1994...Shelby Sullivan's cousin is Laurie Flachmeier Corbelli, who was a member of the U.S. Olympic Teams in 1980 (boycott year) and 1984 (silver medal in Los Angeles).

2010 U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team Roster
Player (Pos., Ht, Hometown, Club, Region)
2 - Madison Bugg (S, 6-0, Apex, N.C., 2012, Triangle, Carolina)
3 - Jordan Burgess (OH, 6-0, Tampa, Fla., 2012, Tampa Bay Juniors, Florida)
5 - Mylan “Mimi” Eugene (OH, 5-11, Houston, Texas, 2014, Texas Tornados, Lone Star)
6 - Brittany Howard (OH, 6-3, Los Altos, Calif., 2012, Vision, Northern California)
8 - Angela Lowak (OH, 6-0, New Braunfels, Texas, 2012, Austin Juniors, Lone Star)
9 - Andie Malloy (S/OH, 6-2, Allen, Texas, 2012, Skyline Juniors, North Texas)
11 - Molly McCage (MB, 6-3, Spring, Texas, 2012, Texas Team, Lone Star)
12 - Allison Palmer (S, 5-9, Laguna Beach, Calif., 2012, Laguna Beach Volleyball Club, Southern California)
14 - Haley Pouliezos (L, 5-7, Imperial, Mo., 2012, High Performance, Gateway)
15 - Chloe Reinig (MB, 6-4, Detroit, Mich., 2013, Michigan Elite, Lakeshore)
17 - Lauren Sieckmann (S, 5-11, Omaha, Neb., 2012, Nebraska Elite, Great Plains)
18 - Shelby Sullivan (MB, 6-2, Richardson, Texas, 2012, TAV, North Texas)

Head Coach: Jim Stone (USA Volleyball High Performance Coach)
Assistant Coach: Melissa Wolter (University of West Florida)
Assistant Coach: Charlene Johnson-Tagaloa (USA Volleyball High Performance Coach)
Team Leader: Diane French (USA Volleyball High Performance)

Past NORCECA Girls’ Youth Continental Championship Results
Year Gold Silver Bronze
1998: USA PUR CAN
2000: PUR USA DOM
2002: USA DOM PUR
2004: USA PUR MEX
2006: USA DOM PUR
2008: USA MEX DOM

Tags: 2010 U.S. Girls' Youth National Team, Allison Palmer, Andie Malloy, Angela Lowak, Brittany Howard, Chloe Reinig, Haley Pouliezos, Jim Stone, Jordan Burgess, Lauren Sieckmann, Madison Bugg, Molly McCage, Mylan Eugene, NORCECA Continental Girls' Youth Championship, Shelby Sullivan, U.S. Girls' Youth National Team