College volleyball stars try out for U.S. Olympic team

They came to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs with high hopes, dreaming of a spot on the U.S. women’s volleyball national team.

Fourteen Division I players participated in a tryout last week that culminated in Saturday scrimmages. Those who make the cut will return to Colorado Springs to train with the team that has qualified for the Beijing Games in August.

“We have all these talented kids from college,” national team coach “Jenny” Lang Ping said. “We want to develop their match skills. We want to introduce our team system. And the international rules are different than the NCAA rules, and they need to know that.”

The tryout list was highlighted by Texas outside hitter Juliann Faucette, the 2007 American Volleyball Coaches Association Freshman of the Year, and UCLA setter Nellie Spicer, a two-time AVCA All-American.

Three players — Stanford middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo, Florida setter Angie McGinnis and Nebraska middle blocker Tracy Stalls, a Denver native — began practicing full time with the national team Monday. Stanford outside hitter Cynthia Barboza will join the team in March.

Most national team members playing professionally overseas won’t return to Colorado Springs until May. Setter Lindsey Hunter returned Monday. Outside hitter Katie Wilkins and libero Nicole Davis get back Wednesday, and opposite Cassie Busse returns Jan. 20.

Asked if any tryout players could earn Olympic slots, Ping said, “It’s really hard to tell because we don’t know what kind of condition our overseas players will be in when they come back. But we’re definitely looking for a few positions from this group.”

Wrestlers to World Cup

Five Colorado Springs wrestlers will compete for the U.S. women’s freestyle team at the World Cup, which starts Saturday in Taiyuan, China.

Team members include Katie Downing, Leigh Jaynes, Stephany Lee, Stephanie Murata and Marcie Van Dusen. Colorado Springs wrestlers Kristie Marano and Patricia Miranda won’t compete because of injuries.

The U.S., shooting for its first World Cup title since 2003, placed fifth at last year’s World Cup. World champion Japan is favored in a meet that features Canada, China, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.

“This is a very important competition for us to re-establish ourselves going into the Olympic year,” national team coach Terry Steiner said. “This can definitely help our psyche as we move forward. It will be a good challenge for us and good preparation for us.”

OTC boxers battle Mexico

Three members of the U.S. Olympic boxing team that’s training at the OTC will compete Friday in a dual against Mexico in San Diego.

The contingent includes light-flyweight Luis Yanez, light-welterweight Javier Molina and middleweight Shawn Estrada. Molina’s twin, Oscar, is a Mexican welterweight.

Johnson in bowling trials

Colorado Springs resident Tish Johnson will begin competition Tuesday at the U.S. Bowling Congress national team trials in Las Vegas.

A USBC Hall of Fame member, Johnson ranks fourth with 25 titles in the now-defunct Professional Women’s Bowling Association. She’s one of four women’s bowlers with more than $1 million in career winnings.

Jones wins slalom race

Colorado Springs disabled skier Allison Jones won her division of the slalom race of the Huntsman Cup this month in Park City, Utah.

Jones completed the women’s standing competition in 1 minute, 38 seconds. She edged runner-up Elitsa Storey by more than eight seconds.