Women's Sitting Team Prepares for Continental Cup

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

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 31, 2011) - The U.S. Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team is preparing to venture to Yevpatoriya and Crimea, Ukraine to compete at the ECVD (European Committee Volleyball for Disabled) Continental Cup on Sept. 5-11.

“We are looking forward to a high level of competition,” U.S. Women’s Sitting Team Head Coach Bill Hamiter (Bethany, Okla.) said. “It’s a good situation for us to be in and we want to develop our less experienced players, while improving the game in specific areas for the more experienced players.

“The players that are going will have to rise to the occasion and produce. The goal is to play together as one unit and for everyone to perform at their maximum potential.”

Hamiter has selected a small seven-player roster including Brenda Maymon (Sellersburg, Ind.), Michelle Gerlosky (Lake Wales, Fla.), Katie Holloway (Lake Stevens, Wash.), Heather Erickson (Fayetteville, N.C.), Monique Burkland (Plainview, Okla.), Kari Miller (Washington, D.C.) and Nichole Millage (Champaign, Ill.).

“There is some experimenting we need to do with systems and personnel along with tweaking some of our systems of play to prepare for the Paralympics next year,” Hamiter said. 

The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team, which has already qualified for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, has set the goal of competing against top teams as often as possible this year. As it heads to the ECVD Continental Cup, Hamiter said the team feels prepared to embark on this endeavor.

“The major focus for us this year was to play some strong competition and that is exactly what we are doing in the Ukraine,” Hamiter said.  “We have played China numerous times this summer and we are excited to compete at the ECVD Continental Cup.”

Hamiter has pinpointed the toughest opponents that Team USA will face.

“The Netherlands and Ukraine finished third and fourth, respectively at the 2010 World Championship,” Hamiter said. “Slovenia and Russia are great teams too and they will be great competition for us, which will hopefully enable us to continue to raise our level of play.”

Team USA will play in the tournament opener against Russia at 4:30 a.m. CT on Sept. 5. The U.S. will face the tournament host, Ukraine, at 10 a.m. CT.

For the second day of tournament play, Team USA will play Slovenia at 5 a.m. CT. The U.S. will play Brazil at noon CT in the last match played on Sept. 6.

On Sept. 7, the U.S. will match up against the Netherlands at noon CT. Team USA will compete against Great Britain at 4 a.m. CT on Sept. 8.

Semifinals and 5-7 classification matches will take place on Sept. 9. The finals will wrap up tournament play on Sept. 10.

After the U.S. returns on Sept. 12, the team will get down to business to prepare for another international trip.

“The critical point for us is when we get back from the tournament,” Hamiter said. “From that point, we have 10 days to turn around to compete in a qualifier for London in Brazil. We have already qualified and will therefore be sending a mixed roster of experienced and less experienced athletes.”

ECVD Continental Cup
Sept. 5-11 in Yevpatoriya and Crimea, Ukraine

U.S. Women’s Sitting Team Roster for Ukraine
No., Name, Hometown
3 Brenda Maymon (Sellersburg, Ind.)
4 Michelle Gerlosky (Lake Wales, Fla.)
5 Katie Holloway (Lake Stevens, Wash./UCO Resident Athlete)
6 Heather Erickson (Fayetteville, N.C./UCO Resident Athlete)
7 Monique Burkland (Plainview, Okla./UCO Resident Athlete)
10 Kari Miller (Washington, D.C.)
13 Nichole Millage (Champaign, Ill./UCO Resident Athlete)

Head Coach: Bill Hamiter (Bethany, Okla.)
Assistant Coach: Cara Lang (Sartell, Minn.)
Athletic Trainer: Kazuma Akehi (Japan)

Tournament Schedule

Day 1
Sept. 5: USA vs. Russia at 4:30 a.m. CT
Sept. 5: Brazil vs. Netherlands at 5:30 a.m. CT
Sept. 5: Great Britain vs. Slovenia at 6:30 a.m. CT
Sept. 5: USA vs. Ukraine at 10 a.m. CT
Sept. 5: Russia vs. Slovenia at 11 a.m. CT
Sept. 5: Brazil vs. Great Britain at noon CT

Day 2
Sept. 6: Ukraine vs. Netherlands at 4 a.m. CT
Sept. 6: USA vs. Slovenia at 5 a.m. CT
Sept. 6: Russia vs. Brazil at 6 a.m. CT
Sept. 6: Slovenia vs. Ukraine at 10 a.m. CT
Sept. 6: Netherlands vs. Great Britain at 11 a.m. CT
Sept. 6: USA vs. Brazil at 10 a.m. CT at noon CT

Day 3
Sept. 7: Ukraine vs. Great Britain at 4 a.m. CT
Sept. 7: Slovenia vs. Brazil at 5 a.m. CT
Sept. 7: Netherlands vs. Russia at 6 a.m. CT
Sept. 7: Brazil vs. Ukraine at 10 a.m. CT
Sept. 7: Great Britain vs. Russia at 11 a.m. CT
Sept. 7: USA vs. Netherlands at noon CT

Day 4
Sept. 8: Ukraine vs. Russia at 2 a.m. CT
Sept. 8: Great Britain vs. at 4 a.m. CT
Sept. 8: Slovenia vs. Netherlands at 5 a.m. CT

Semifinals
Sept. 9: Semifinal 1 at 5 a.m. CT
Sept. 9: Semifinal 2 at 7 a.m. CT
Sept. 9: 5-7 places match at 9 a.m. CT

Finals
Sept. 10: 5-7 places match at 3 a.m. CT
Sept. 10: 5-7 places match at 5:30 a.m. CT
Sept. 10: Bronze medal match at 7:30 a.m. CT
Sept. 10: Gold medal match at 9 a.m. CT

Tags: Bill Hamiter, Brenda Maymon, Heather Erickson, Kari Miller, Katie Holloway, Michelle Gerlosky, mobile, Monique Burkland, Nichole Millage, U.S. Women's Sitting Volleyball Team