Countries Come Together at USAV HP Championships

Candice Kasischke
Intern, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: candice.kasischke@usav.org

WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (July 28, 2010) – The 2010 USA Volleyball High Performance Championships is hosting the international countries of Peru, Chile and Puerto Rico in the July 26-30 event located in Wisconsin Dells, Wis.

All of the international teams participating in the USA Volleyball High Performance Championships find the event to be a great opportunity for their teams.

Peru Girls’ Youth Team captain Ginna Lopez and Dyana Del Castillo are both in America for their first time by participating in the USAV HP Championships. The Peruvian girls feel that by coming to play against the teams in America, they will perform better when they return to Peru.

“It is very interesting for us because the teams are very tall and play at a good level,” Lopez said through interpreter Sam Shweisky, head coach of the U.S. Girls’ Youth Continental White Team. “It serves us well to play them and makes us better because it helps to improve us so we can compete well in our South American zone when we return.”

“It seems like a very good tournament so far,” Castillo said through Shweisky. “It gives us a chance to get better, and puts us in a good position to play in our zonal championships. There are very strong teams, and we are very excited to be here and participate in top competition.”

Castillo and Lopez are enjoying the experience of competing against all teams, but in particular Puerto Rico and Chile in the United States.

“It is cool because we played Puerto Rico in March at Puerto Rico,” Castillo said. “It is really wonderful to see them again and face them in America and see how they are improving.”

“We went to Chile a year ago and played Chile,” Lopez added. “It is great to see them again and to move up the ladder together as we progress. The relationships we have made with them are also very important to us.”

The Peruvian athletes felt a special significance in representing their country at this international event as July 25 marks Peru’s Independence Day.

“It is very emotional,” Lopez said. “We are representing our entire country of Peru in America on our Independence Day and it gives us a sense of satisfaction and pride.”

“We have a lot of pride and it is a nice feeling to represent our country in the sport we love,” Castillo said.

Chile is also honored to compete at the USAV HP Championships. Hugo Jauregui is the head coach of Chile’s entire delegation and believes that interacting at this event is immeasurable for the Chilean players.

“The first time a Chilean team came to this tournament was in 2008 with a Chile Girls’ Youth Team that did not win a single match,” Jauregui said through Shweisky. “However, it was a very good experience, the level of competition was very good and the quality of the organization (USAV) was impressive. Because of this great experience, our Chilean teams worked very hard to bring both boys and girls to the 2010 tournament to give them the experience of playing in America. This year is going much better for them and it is proven in their tournament records.”

Jauregui hopes to keep bringing Chilean teams to USAV HP Championships.

“We hope to bring this year’s youth teams up to the junior division next year and to also bring two new teams to the youth division,” Jauregui said. “We want to extend a ‘thank you’ to USA Volleyball. The organization did a lot to help and without it we wouldn’t have been able to come. This event is something that we put on our calendar and look forward to all year.”

Sara Dodero, assistant coach of Chile’s Girls’ Youth Team, feels that the interaction with all of the different cultures at the tournament is very beneficial to her players.

“It is very important for the girls to meet other young players with different cultures and backgrounds and to open their mind through different experiences,” Dodero said through Shweisky. “The diversity amongst the American teams is exciting for them to see. In Chile we don’t have different races and it’s interesting to see that America has a wide spectrum of races. It is a very positive experience to see black, white and Asian people in America. We see the different races on television, but get to meet different individuals here at the tournament. It is a very nice thing to see sports bringing races together and exciting to listen to the different languages. You feel the goal of international play coming alive on the court.”

Representing Puerto Rico, Luis Guillermo Garcia is captain of Puerto Rico Boys’ Youth International Team. Garcia has been to America before by attending the USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships for the past five years and coming to the 2008 USAV HP Championships in Arizona. At the 2010 USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships, Garcia’s Halcones de Torrimar team finished with the bronze medal in the 15 Open Division. He was also named to the all-tournament team for the 15 Open Division.

Garcia finds that the USAV HP Championships offer an element that the club tournament cannot meet.

“The experience at this tournament is very different from the (USAV Boys’ Junior National Championships) tournament I attended in Austin, Texas, this year,” Garcia said through Shweisky. “The difference at USAV HP Championships is that I am representing all of Puerto Rico and doing so in front of the people from across the world. It fires your heart up to play as hard as you can to represent your countrymen.”

Garcia expressed that he enjoys coming together with all of the different teams as one under the name of USA Volleyball.

“This tournament is very organized and it’s great to meet different people not just from the United States, but also from all over the world,” Garcia added. “It’s a global family of volleyball at this tournament and it’s fun to be a part of that.”

While the international teams are enjoying their stay in Wisconsin Dells, Shweisky has been pulling double duty. While also serving as the head coach of his U.S. Girls’ Youth Continental White Team, he has also been available to all the teams as a translator.

The 2010 USAV HP Championships will continue through July 30.

For more information on the 2010 USA Volleyball High Performance Championships, click here. To view the match schedule/brackets and live results, click here.

Event photos taken by OSIR/Debbie Reber can be viewed and purchased by clicking here.

Tags: USA Volleyball, USA Volleyball High Performance, USA Volleyball High Performance Championships, USAV High Performance