February 22, 2008
Sarah Ammerman, an outside hitter on the Texas A&M volleyball team, is one of 114 athletes slated to attend tryouts for the U.S. Women?â„¢s National Team this weekend at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
USA Volleyball will be identifying prospective athletes for the U.S. National and Olympic Teams, as well as the A2 program, which will train in Atlanta for 10 days in May.
?I tried out for the Junior National Team and participated in the Junior A2 Camp when I was in high school, and I just really liked the atmosphere of USA,? said Ammerman, who is from Parker, Colo. ?Being a part of USA Volleyball is something I?â„¢ve wanted to do. I don?â„¢t know if it will happen, but I always will want it to and this will give me the opportunity to try out.?
According to USA Volleyball, the breakdown for the tryouts is 34 liberos, 28 outside hitters, 25 middle blockers, 15 setters and 12 opposites. A total of 16 players have exhausted their college eligibility, while six players have four years of college eligibility remaining. The tryout will be represented by athletes from 49 different collegiate programs in all three NCAA divisions.
?There are a few girls from my (Front Range Volleyball) club who will be there, and I recognize a lot of girls, just names from who we have played and from across the nation,? Ammerman said. ?I am really excited. It is going to be really competitive and it is going to be a lot of good volleyball.?
As a sophomore this past season, Ammerman paced A&M to a 21-10 record, leading the team and ranking fifth in the Big 12 with 5.07 points and 4.43 kills per game. She also led the Aggies and ranked fourth in the league with 0.36 aces per game.
?A&M has prepared me, especially by playing at such a high level,? Ammerman said. ?When I go play these girls, I will be right there with them, and that is an attribute to the high level that we train here every day.
?Just being put in an atmosphere like this, trying out with the elite in the nation is going to make me a stronger player. This will be a really good experience for me. I can do nothing but grow from it.?
Tryout participants will be notified by March 11 whether they have been invited to train with the U.S. Women's National Team or compete as part of the A2 Team program.
For a complete list of participants, go to USAVolleyball.org.