April 09, 2008
Sarah Ammerman, an outside hitter at Texas A&M, has been selected to the U.S. Women?â„¢s Senior A2 National Team program, USA Volleyball recently announced.
?It is really exciting to be selected and be able to train with many of the top-level players in the country,? Ammerman said. ?It is a great opportunity for me. The more volleyball I can play the better, and to be able to compete with higher-level athletes will push my game and my skill level. It will be good to play that extra two weeks, go up against and also develop more styles, and just learn lots of new volleyball.?
The junior-to-be from Parker, Colo., was one of 113 athletes to attend a 3-day open tryout at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., in late February. A total of 22 players were selected from the open tryout, as well as an invitation-only event held in January. Both tryouts doubled as evaluation periods for the A2 program, as well as the U.S. Women?â„¢s National Team, which will compete at the Olympic Games.
?(Playing on the National Team) is something that I?â„¢ve always wanted to do,? Ammerman said. ?I?â„¢ve always watched the Olympic Team growing up, and being on the A2 team is one step closer. This is an exciting opportunity, and hopefully I can grow and work my way up to that level.?
According to USA Volleyball, the 22 players, all with remaining collegiate eligibility, will be split into two 11-member squads during training sessions prior to competing in the USA Volleyball Adult Open Championships May 24-31 in Atlanta. The competition will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center Hall B.
?Sarah has it so strongly in her heart that she wants to compete at a higher level some day, and she wants to be challenged and see where she stands,? A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. ?This is going to be a great experience for her, and she is the type of person who will embrace the entire experience and make it work for her game and make her a better player.?
Ammerman paced A&M to a 21-10 record as a sophomore, leading the team and ranking fifth in the Big 12 Conference 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.
?This also is a huge benefit for A&M, because our starting outside hitter is going to get to train and compete at a very high level when school is out,? Corbelli added. ?The experience of playing with new people and having to make adjustments and adapt her game to the different styles will help her grow.?
USA Volleyball also announced the coaching staff for the U.S. Women?â„¢s National A2 Teams. University of Texas Head Coach Jerritt Elliott and Michigan State University Head Coach Cathy George will serve as head coaches for the program, while University of Virginia Assistant Coach Jill Pape-Kramer and Georgia Tech Assistant Coach Ben Bodipo-Memba will serve as assistant coaches.
Additional information on the USA Volleyball Adult Open Championships can be found at http://www.usavolleyball.org/Adults/.