Micah Christenson 'Sets' Up for Success

Erin Campbell
Intern, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6864
E-Mail: erin.campbell@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 28, 2010) – Micah Christenson is one of the 19 players attending the USAV Men’s Junior National Training Camp on July 30-Aug. 8 at the GaREAT Facility in Geneva, Ohio. For some of the players, the training camp is a completely new experience; but for Christenson, it is beginning to turn into a routine.

The training camp will determine the roster for the 2010 NORCECA Men’s Junior Continental Championship on Aug. 16-21 in Gatineau, Quebec.

At 17, Christenson (Honolulu, Hawaii) is the second youngest player to attend the camp. His age not only qualifies him to attend the Men’s Junior National Training camp, but it allowed him to play on the U.S. Boys’ Youth National Team in 2009 and 2010.

He was the setter for the 2009 Boys’ Youth National Team that finished 10^th at the FIVB World Championship. He placed 13^th among the Championship’s best setters with 88 running sets, 323 still sets and 2.93 average running sets per set.

Christenson, who is 6 feet, 5 inches,  kicked off the 2010 season as the team captain for the U.S. Boys’ Youth Team at the NORCECA Boys’ Youth Championships on April 6-11 in Guadalajara, Mexico, , and led the team to a silver medal. The team went 3-2 in the tournament and its only two losses came against Cuba, which defeated it in the third round of pool play and in the championship match. Christenson finished fourth among all setters with 67 running sets and 203 still sets while averaging 4.47 running sets per set.

“Micah is a fantastic player who has the ability to set a nice ball,” training camp head coach John Hawks said. “He’s a great teammate and he’s got some size, which provides a certain perception from the opponent that he’s a sound blocker.”

It is easy to see why, over the course of the last year, Christenson’s role has changed from rookie to leader.

“I want to just try to make it comfortable for all of the new guys on and off the court,” Christenson said. “I’ll show that I accept them and I will talk to them. That helped me a lot last year. I wasn’t expecting much but the guys took me under their wing.”

He recognizes that for many of the newcomers, the pressure to perform and make the roster may outweigh the overall goal of simply getting better.

“All of the returning players know it’s our job to make everyone comfortable,” Christenson said. “If all of the new players do that then it will help the new guys perform at their best.”

Christenson understands what the camp is for; but for him, it is more than trying out for the roster. It is also about building and rekindling relationships, becoming a better player with every training session and playing good competition that challenges each player day in and day out.

Even with the external factors of the camp, Christenson keeps a cool head.

“Everybody has the experience to be at the camp and it’s something we all practice every day,” Christenson said. “Pressure is created by the individual. If you think its pressure or anxiety, then it will be. If you don’t think about it, it will reduce your anxiety. You just have to play for yourself and in the end, you’ll make yourself look good.”

Hawks acknowledges Christenson’s ability to remain calm under high-pressure situations.

“Having had as much experience as Micah’s had, he’s a calming influence on the court,” Hawks said. “But he also has a competitive side on the court that brings out the best in the players around him.”

Alongside the U.S., 11 teams will be competing at the Championships: Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Honduras, Guatemala, Martinique and St. Lucia. The preliminary round begins Aug. 16 and the final round will conclude on Aug. 21.

Not only will the event determine the new NORCECA champion and give the winning team world ranking points, it will also determine at least two bids for the 2011 FIVB World Junior Championships.

USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Training Team:

Name    (Pos., Ht., Hometown, High School/Grad. Year)              

Taylor Averill (S, 6-6, San Jose, Calif., Braham/2010)
Micah Christenson (S, 6-5,Honolulu, Hawaii, Kamehameha Kapalama/2011)
Tanner Clayton (MB, 6-10, San Diego, Calif., Rancho Bernardo/2010)
Brian Cook (OH, 6-6, Santa Cruz, Calif., Soquel/2010)
Taylor Crabb (OH, 6-10, Honolulu, Hawaii, Punahou/2010)
Dylan Davis (MB, 6-9, Newport Beach, Calif., Corona Del Mar/2009)
Jeremy Dejno (OH, 6-4, New Berlin, Wis., New Berlin Eisenhower/2010)
Parker Kalmbach (OH, 6-7, Coto De Caza, Calif., Tesoro/2010)
Scott Kevorken (MB, 6-9, Westlake Village, Calif., Westlake/2009)
Michael McMahon (L, 5-9, Coto De Caza, Calif., Santa Margarita Catholic/2010)
Eric Mochalski (OPP, 6-6, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Mira Costa/2010)
Evan Mottram (L, 6-4, Leona Valley, Calif., Quartz Hill/2009)
Robart Page (OH, 7-0, Victor, N.Y., Victor/2010)
Daniel Stork (OH, 6-4, Norco, Calif., Norco/2010)
Josh Taylor (OH, 6-7, Honolulu, Hawaii, Punahou/2011)
Maurice Torres (OPP, 6-7, Riverside, Calif., Lutheran/2009)
Shane Welch (MB, 6-9, Coral Springs, Fla., Stoneman Douglas/2010)
Matt West (S, 6-5.5, Seattle, Wash., Shorewood/2011)

Head Coach: John Hawks (Long Beach State University)
Assistant Coaches: Colin McMillan (Penn State University) and Brad Keller (USC)

Tags: 2010 U.S. Men's Junior National Training Team, Micah Christenson