Former Aggie Star Sykora Named to Olympic Team
Jul 27, 2000 | Volleyball
July 27, 2000
Former Texas A&M All-American volleyball player Stacy Sykora came one step closer to achieving her childhood dream of playing in the Olympics as she was one of 12 players named to the 2000 U.S. Olympic Women's Volleyball Team. USA Women's National Volleyball Team head coach Mick Haley announced the team today with the final selection pending approval from the United States Olympic Committee.
"This is the biggest thrill of my whole life," Sykora said. "It is the culmination of an athlete's life to make it to the Olympics Games. We have all worked so hard to get to this point, and to actually realize we are going to represent the United States is awesome.
"I remember as far back as the second grade dreaming of playing in the Olympics. Up until this day, I never knew for sure that I would make it, and for it to be finally official, it's just amazing. When the team was announced, I started bawling So many things were running through my mind from my childhood days growing up in Burleson, Texas, through my college career and my training with the national team. And then I think about all the rough roads, the setbacks and challenges, and I have persevered. It is a great feeling."
Sykora is Team USA's designated Libero, a recently created defensive specialist used in international competition and making its Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney Games. Easily distinguishable on the court because of the different color jersey, the Libero, who is announced with the other six starters, is allowed to dig and pass but cannot hit, serve or block, or set in front of the 10-foot line.
"I will be the first Libero ever in the history of the Olympics," Sykora said. "If that position was not available, I would not be on this team."
Sykora, a two-time All-American at Texas A&M, also will become the first Aggie to play on an Olympic volleyball team. She follows in the footsteps of her college coaches, Texas A&M head coach Laurie Corbelli, who was a silver medalist on the U.S. Olympic Team at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles and also was a member of the 1980 Olympic Team which boycotted the Games in Moscow, and A&M associate head coach John Corbelli, who was an assistant coach on the `84 U.S. Olympic Team. Sykora will don No. 5, the same jersey number Laurie wore at the `84 Games.
"It is an honor for me to be able to wear Laurie's number at the 2000 Olympics," Sykora said. "If it wasn't for Laurie having the confidence in me and telling me that I could do this, I wouldn't be in this position. And about three weeks ago when it was really crunch time, John talked to me and changed my attitude. They both helped me realize that I could achieve my goal, and they helped mold me into the player that I am.
"I'm glad I can represent my country and Texas A&M, as well as Laurie and John and what they have done for me as a person and a player."
The 5-10 Sykora was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starting outside hitter for the nationally ranked Aggies from 1995-98. Always a crowd favorite because of her high flying, explosive attacks, her cat-like quickness and her phenomenal digs, the Burleson native capped her A&M career by being named to the 1998 All-America second-team by the American Volleyball Coaches Association for the second consecutive year.
Sykora led the Big 12 Conference and was ninth in the country in digs per game (4.37) in her final season and led the conference in digs per game with 4.54 in conference games only, breaking the league record of 4.44 which she set in 1996.
Sykora had a career year in her final season, hitting .277 and leading A&M in kills per game (4.74) and digs per game (4.37) while also directing the Aggies to their sixth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance and a 21-9 record. She finished her stellar four-year career ranked second in the A&M career records in both kills (1,586) and digs (1,471) and set 23 A&M single match, Big 12 season and Big 12 career marks.
Sykora began training with the National Team in January, 1999, and quickly established herself as one of the top Liberos in the world. She was named the best receiver at the prestigious BVC Volley Masters in Switzerland, and she helped the USA to a bronze medal at the `99 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Sykora also earned the best digger award at the `99 NORCECA Championship in Mexico as USA captured the silver medal.
Sykora was named the best libero at the 2000 NIKE Americas' Volleyball Challenge while helping Team USA qualify for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She also was named best receiver and best digger and received the tournament spirit award at the 2000 BVC Volley Masters.
"When I first made the national team, it was the happiest moment of my life," Sykora said. "I was so happy even though it was just the tryouts. Since then I have had so many ups and downs and have been on an emotional roller coaster. Being named to the Olympic Team is such a relief. I've been very emotional today, laughing, crying, smiling. I can't explain the emotion. I feel like a kid who just got a huge gift."
Joining Sykora on the Olympic Team will be: Robyn Ah Mow (Honolulu/University of Hawai'i), Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif./University of Hawai'i), Tara Cross Battle (Houston/Long Beach State), Mickisha Hurley (Miami Shores, Fla./Barry University), Sarah Noriega (Ulysses, Kan./Loyola Marymount University), Demetria Sance (San Antonio, Texas/University of Texas), Danielle Scott (Baton Rouge, La./Long Beach State), Charlene Tagaloa (Las Vegas/Brigham Young University), Logan Tom (Salt Lake City/Stanford University), Kerri Walsh (Saratoga, Calif./Stanford University) and Allison Weston (Papillion, Neb./University of Nebraska).
Benishe Dillard (Kent, Wash./Long Beach State) and Laura Johnson (Wheaton, Ill/Ohio State) will serve as the team's alternates.
"It was an extremely difficult decision, because everyone had their own asset," Haley said. "We have a good mix of veterans and young players. That combination gives us the best chance to go for a medal in Sydney.
"This team will leave everything they have out on the court for the USA. We are training extremely hard six days a week and are looking forward to Sydney."
Team USA will compete in Pool A at the Sydney Olympics against host No. 27 Australia, No. 3 Brazil, No. 4 China, No. 8 Croatia and No. 29 Kenya. Pool B will consist of No. 1 Russia, No. 2 Cuba, No. 5 Korea, No. 6 Italy, No. 11 Peru and No. 12 Germany. The top four teams in each pool will advance to the championship quarterfinals.
The team's final Olympic preparation will be the FIVB Grand Prix, Aug. 4-27 in Asia. The Americans will face No. 1 Cuba, No. 2 Russia, No. 3 Brazil, No. 4 China, No. 5 Korea and No. 7 Japan in the round-robin tournament.
STACY SYKORA
Major international competition: 2000 - BCV Volley Masters...Japan Tour...NIKE Americas' Volleyball Challenge...Russia Trip. 1999 - Australia Trip...Brazil Tour...BCV Volley Masters...Japan Tour...NORCECA Championships...Pan American Games...World Cup.
International highlights: 2000 - Named best Libero at the NIKE Americas' Volleyball Challenge, helping Team USA qualify for the 2000 Sydney Olympics...Averaged 4.5 digs per game on the Japan Tour...Led the team with 68 digs and a 2.42 passing average on the Russia Trip...Was the leading digger at the BCV Volley Masters with 43 digs. 1999 - Saw her first international playing time on the Australia Trip. Named best receiver at the BCV Volley Masters, and placed third in digging...Sparked the Americans' defense on the Japan Tour, recording a career-high 22 digs in the June 30 match...Team's primary passer and defensive player on the bronze-medal winning Pan American Games squad...Helped the Americans earn a three-match sweep of Brazil with 39 digs in 12 games...Tallied 53 digs en route to earning the best digger award at the NORCECA Championship...Recorded a team-high 153 digs at the World Cup...Recorded a team-high 456 digs.
College highlights: 1998 - American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Second-Team All-American...AVCA All-District 5...First-Team All-Big 12...Led the team in kills (4.74) and digs per game (4.37)...Finished the season ranked No. 9 in the country in digs per game...MVP of the All Sport Challenge. 1997 - AVCA Second-Team All-American...Asics/Volleyball Honorable Mention All-America...AVCA All-District 5...First-Team All-Big 12...MVP of the Georgia Invitational...Led the team and ranked second in the conference in digs per game (3.80). 1996 - AVCA All-District 5...Named team defensive player of the year...Led the Big 12 in digs per game with a 4.01 average...Set a school record with 24 digs in a three-game loss to Michigan State in the NCAA tournament...Posted a career-high 30 kills in a victory over nationally-ranked Loyola Marymount. 1995 - Saw action in 29 of 30 matches as a true freshman...Led the team in kills in four matches and in digs three times.
