Wopat Twins Feed Off Each Other at Tryouts

Becky Murdy
Media Relations and Publications Assistant
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: becky.murdy@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 26, 2011) - For twins Sam and Carly Wopat athletics are not a hobby, but a family tradition and volleyball is more than their sport, but a sister act. The two have competed on the same court since they were 12 and continue the custom at the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team Open Tryouts being held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“We love the competitiveness out here,” Sam said. “It is exciting to get a break from school and play with the level of talent out here on the courts. Being twins in this sport is cool because we get the opportunity to sometimes intimidate our opponents as well.”

“It is fun sometimes to play on opposite sides of the net though,” Carly added on being on different teams and playing each other in tryouts. “We can watch what each other does and make ourselves better from it.”

Sam and Carly, who both play for head coach John Dunning at Stanford, showcased an impressive freshman year on the court. Carly started in 30 matches and played in all 31, posting 147 kills averaging 1.39 per set. Sam competed in eight matches and tallied eight kills.

The competition between the two freshmen gives rest as the two compete in different spots on the court. Sam performs as an opposite hitter, while Carly soars as a middle blocker.

“We both started as outside hitters,” Carly said. “I now play middle blocker at Stanford, but have rotated around the court when spots needed to be filled.”

USA Volleyball/Bill Kauffman Sam Wopat serves during a session at the 2011 U.S. Women's National Team Open Tryouts. Sam added that the positions for the two were “more coaching decisions than anything.”

Both sisters have had previous USA Volleyball High Performance pipeline experience, most recently winning gold at the 2010 NORCECA Women’s Junior Continental Championship. Carly, who started in all the NORCECA matches last summer, posted six points in the championship match against the Dominican Republic, accumulating 44 tournament points. Sam played as a reserve in three matches with two set starts, accumulating four points in total.

The 2011 U.S. Women’s National Open Tryouts are the biggest in program history with 205 attendees from all over the country. With so many girls competing for spots on either the U.S. Women’s National Team, U.S. Women’s Junior National Team or U.S. Women’s National A2 Team, personality in addition to skill can get the coaches attention.

“I try to be vocal out there,” Carly said. “A lot of the new girls are quiet because of nerves, so we just try to stay supportive and vocal.” Sam finished Carly’s thought by adding that having a “presence on the court” is the most important thing.”

The Wopat twins’ impressive volleyball resume comes as no surprise as they have elite athleticism flowing in their blood from both their mother and father. Father, Ron Wopat, competed in the 1980 Olympic Trials, placing 12th in the decathlon. In 1981 he became one of the eight members of the U.S. decathlon team. Their mother, Kathy Wopat, attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where she competed in gymnastics and track and field.

“Both of our parents are athletic as well as our little brothers brothers,” Carly said. Sam joked, adding, “they aren’t really that little.”

“We have two brothers and our 15-year-old brother is already 6-4. Sports and competing is what we grew up around,” Carly added.

Finishing each other’s sentences, competing in the same sport at the highest level of competition, traveling and going to school together might be overwhelming to some, but the sisters make sure that they do their own thing and keep the sport as individual as possible.

“We go to the gym, but have our own circuit and routine,” Carly said. “We have competed on different teams and done our own thing throughout our volleyball careers. Going to the same college wasn’t at the top of our priorities either, we visited a lot of schools and both of our top choices happened to be Stanford and we got in.”

With one day remaining in tryouts, Sam and Carly are eager to get back out on the court on Sunday morning. Their hopes of winning a gold medal with the U.S. Women’s National Team linger in their minds right beside the dream of being a team duo and winning gold as the U.S. Beach Volleyball Team.

Tags: Carly Wopat, Sam Wopat, U.S. Women's Junior National Team, U.S. Women's National A2 Team, U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team