Men's Junior Team to Train at GaREAT in Ohio

B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: bj.evans@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 26, 2010) – USA Volleyball is pleased to announce that the U.S. Men’s Junior National Volleyball Training Team will prepare for the 2010 NORCECA Continental Championships at The Geneva area Recreational, Educational, Athletic Trust (GaREAT) in Geneva, Ohio.

The 2010 NORCECA Men’s Junior (under-21) Continental Championships will take place Aug. 14-22 in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. The 19 members of the U.S. Men’s Junior National Training Team will begin practicing on July 30. Over the course of the training period, 12 players will be selected to compete at the NORECA Championship.

The GaREAT Sports Complex is one of the world's largest sports, fitness and health facilities and it’s poised to become one of the most diverse athletic training centers ever created. Virtually all sports in all seasons can compete in 450,000 sq. ft. of state-of-the art indoor facilities and outdoor stadium.

“We feel very fortunate that the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team will be able to train at the GaREAT Sports Complex,” said Collin Powers, USAV Manager of High Performance Indoor National Programs, who will serve as the team leader. “We think it will be a great place for our team to prepare, both physically and mentally, for an important international event.”

“GaREAT is honored to have been chosen to host the U.S. Men’s Junior National Volleyball Team as they prepare for the 2010 Men’s Junior Continental Championships,” said Ron Clutter, Founder of GaREAT Sports Complex. “USA Volleyball shares our passion to improve performance and the lives of those who pursue athletic development.  We look forward to working more with them in the future.”

The NORCECA Continental Championship will feature teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean to try to qualify for the 2011 FIVB Men’s Junior World Championship.

John Hawks (Huntington Beach, Calif.), an assistant coach with the Long Beach State men’s volleyball team, will serve as the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team head coach. He will be assisted by Brad Keller, an assistant with USC’s men’s team, and Colin McMillan, an assistant coach with Penn State’s men’s team.

Eleven players on the training team have played on U.S. Boys’ Youth National Team. Most recently, setter Micah Christenson (Honolulu, Hawaii) competed for the 2010 Boys’ Youth National Team that finished second to Cuba at the NORCECA Boys’ Youth Championship on April 6-11 in Guadalajara, Mexico. Christenson also played on the 2009 Boys’ Youth Team that finished 10th at the FIVB Boys’ Youth World Championship in Italy. At that tournament, he became the youngest starting setter to ever compete for the United States on a national team.

Dylan Davis (Corona del Mar, Calif.), Evan Mottram (Leona Valley, Calif.), Connor Olbright (Orange, Calif.), Taylor Sander (Norco, Calif.) and Maurice Torres (Riverside, Calif.) all played with the Boys’ Youth National Team in 2008 and 2009. The 2008 Boys’ Youth National Team won the NORCECA Boys’ Youth Championship in Miami.

Tanner Clayton (San Diego, Calif.), Taylor Crabb (Honolulu, Hawaii), Jeremy Dejno (New Berlin, Wis.) and Joshua Taylor (Honolulu, Hawaii) all played with the 2009 Boys’ Youth National Team. Scott Kevorken (Westlake Village, Calif.) was a member of the 2008 Boys’ Youth National Team.

Other players selected to the training team are Taylor Averill (San Jose, Calif.), Brian Cook (Santa Cruz, Calif.), Parker Kalmbach (Coto de Caza, Calif.), Michael McMahon (Coto de Caza, Calif.), Eric Mochalski (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Robart Page (Rochester, N.Y.), Daniel Stork (Topanga, Calif.) and Shane Welch (Coral Springs, Fla.).

About GeREAT

GaREAT is an innovative, holistic approach to positively impacting lives via sports training, education and healthy, competitive activities. It’s already one of the world's largest sports, fitness and health facilities and it’s poised to become one of the most diverse athletic training centers ever created.  Virtually all sports in all seasons can compete in 450,000 sq. ft. of state-of-the art indoor facilities and outdoor football/soccer/track and field stadium. By early 2011, this number will expand to over 700,000 sq.ft.

About USA Volleyball

Founded in 1928, USA Volleyball is a Colorado incorporated non-profit organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the Federation International de Volleyball (FIVB) as the National Governing Body for the sport of Volleyball in the United States.

USA Volleyball is responsible for both the Olympic disciplines of indoor volleyball and beach volleyball. USA Volleyball has over 240,000 registered members, 12,000 teams and 5,000 clubs nationwide. With an annual budget in excess of $11 million dollars, USA Volleyball supports the USA men’s and women’s senior national team programs, youth and junior national teams, national championship events, coaching education and certification programs, grassroots development, and programs for the disabled and ParalympicTeams. USA Volleyball has a rich tradition of success as evidenced by winning an Olympic medal in every Olympic Games since 1984 and capturing numerous World Cup, World Championship and Continental Championship titles.

USA Volleyball is committed to and works toward opportunity for all to participate. It is an advocate for all Americans endeavoring to assure universal access to opportunities at all levels of the game.

Tags: 2010 U.S. Men's Junior National Training Team, Brian Cook, Collin Powers, Daniel Stork, Dylan Davis, Eric Mochalski, Jeremy Dejno, John Hawks, Maurice Torres, Michael McMahon, NORCECA Men's Junior Continental Championship, Parker Kalmbach, Robart Page, Scott Kevorken, Shane Welch, Taylor Averill, Taylor Crabb, Taylor Sander