ISLE FILE
U.S. Jr. volleyball team in Morocco
Advertiser Staff
After completing a warm-up tournament in Italy that had its ups and downs, the U.S. Men's Junior National Team will begin play today at the FIVB Men's Junior World Championships. Team USA, captained by Ho-nolulu's Kawika Shoji and Spencer McLachlin, opens against Egypt in Rabat, Morocco.
The United States is in Pool B with Egypt, Brazil, Slovenia, Argentina and defending world champion Russia. Pool A is Bulgaria, Iran, Cuba, Italy, Morocco and Japan.
This is the fourth time the U.S. has qualified for Junior Worlds. In 1977 and 1981, it was seventh. Team USA returned in 2005, going 2-5 and finishing eighth.
The junior team finished a "friendly" tournament in Italy with a 1-3 record, losing twice to Japan and once to Italy. Team USA pulled an amazing comeback Monday to defeat Brazil, 24-26, 20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 29-17. Shoji was a key part of the rally and McLachlin had 11 points.
"Kawika Shoji is a great libero for us," U.S. coach Andy Read said. "You could just put a camera on him and tell players, 'play like him.'"
The team opened the friendly tournament by falling to Italy, 13-25, 20-25, 16-25. After the victory over Brazil, it fell to Japan, 29-31, 20-25, 20-25, and 20-25, 17-25, 25-21, 24-26.
TRACK
FOUR FROM UH HONORED
Four University of Hawai'i student-athletes were named to the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association all-academic team, released on Thursday.
Annett Wichmann, Emily Sheppard, Jessica Trujillo, and Mallory Gilbert were among 415 athletes representing 117 Division I universities. To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team, student-athletes need a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 and an NCAA automatic or provisional qualifying mark for the most recent indoor championships or an outdoor regional qualifying mark in their respective event.
Last week, Wichmann was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America third team, in addition to District VIII first-team honors earlier in the month. Wichmann became the first track and field athlete to earn Academic All-America recognition in school history.
Arizona State's Sarah Stevens and Wake Forest's Michelle Sikes were named the 2007 Division I Indoor and Outdoor Scholar Athletes of the Year.
