March 22, 2011
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Junior libero Frenchy Silva was named to the United States Women’s National A2 Team, it was announced Tuesday by USA Volleyball. The honor came on the heels of last month’s impressive two-day tryout for Silva at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Silva was an alternate for the same team in 2010.
“This is a tremendous honor for Frenchy and a testament to her great work ethic,” Notre Dame head coach Debbie Brown said. “After being selected as an alternate last year, she was so determined to make it this year. Her skills are very solid but what’s most impressive is her ability to make others around her better. I know Frenchy will make the most out of this great opportunity.”
Silva anchored the Irish during her junior campaign with a team-high 398 digs for a 3.75 digs/set average. She broke a sweat in 106 of Notre Dame’s 111 sets played.
USA Volleyball saw a record 204 athletes – including Notre Dame’s Andrea McHugh and Hilary Eppink – from 81 different colleges participate in this year’s open tryouts for the U.S. National Team, U.S. A2 Program and U.S. Women’s Junior National Team. Silva was one of 46 liberos to compete at the tryouts and only six were selected. The U.S. Women’s National Team coaching staff – including head coach Hugh McCutcheon and assistant coaches Karch Kiraly and Paula Weishoff – took part in the evaluation oversight process.
Geoff Carlston (Ohio State), Fran Flory (LSU) and Kelly Sheffield (Dayton) will serve as the three head coaches for the U.S. Women’s National A2 Program in 2011.
Athletes in college with collegiate eligibility remaining for the 2011 season and not selected to the USA Women’s National Team may be invited to participate in the U.S. Women’s National Senior A2 Team.
The U.S. Women’s National A2 Program will take place in Dallas, Texas, from May 23 through June 1. The program includes training and competition in the 2011 USA Volleyball Open National Championships in the Open Division from May 28-31.
“Each year, the depth of talent has increased to the point that it made sense to involve 12 more athletes in the Women’s A2 program and enter a third team in the USA Volleyball Open National Championships,” USA Volleyball Managing Director of Indoor High Performance Tom Pingel said. “I am very much looking forward to this group of athletes and coaches assembling in Dallas in May.”
During the training sessions in Dallas, the coaching staff will divide the 36 players into three teams of 12 players to compete in the USA Volleyball Open National Championships. Last year, two A2 teams competed in the Open Division, producing a gold and bronze medal.
–ND–