USA Volleyball National Team Tryout Roster

[Murina]

This isn't close... Noriega is a much better blocker than Metcalf. Metcalf is far superior at everything else!

Metcalf isn't one of the worlds great rightside players, but she's good enough to win a medal if the lefts are just a little better than average. The better the lefts are, the better Metcalf is.

In Noriega's case the lefts had better be Cuban! Noriega is not an attacking threat in the front row, let alone the back row. Nor is she the great ball handling right in the mold of Zhou. Noriega is a one rotation player - block for the setter as long as her team has the serve - then she's out. Maybe a 3 rotation player in a double sub situation, but I'm pretty leary about that idea.

[vbuzz]

Other than Nancy Metcalf carrying all the heavy load at RS, who else is there to help out on the right. It would've been nice to have someone to ease up on the load. There hasn't been a big time rightside hitter in a long time coming out of college or currently in college, other than Sarah Pavan. Whatever happened to Cassie Busse?

[SaltNPepper]

So what is Christina Houghtelling's statue in her recovery/trainning after sitting out last year? Would that be the reason she's not on the list, because she won't be up to full speed until next fall?

In 2005, she played a rotation or two on the right side I think as she was opposite Pavan in the 6-2, though not sure that would be a natural position for her.

[VolleyTX]

Whatever happened to Cassie Busse?

She has been playing with the national team over the last year or so. She traveled with them to several tournaments. During last year's World Grand Prix, she came in for Metcalf for about two sets against China and played great! My opinion of Cassie is that she could/should be a better right side than Metcalf. She is a better blocker.... better server.... better at defense. She just needs more play time. I really wished she was playing over-seas this season. She just needs more experience and confidence.

Metcalf is HANDS DOWN a much better and complete player than Noriega! Completely agree with Murina's assessment.

[weeble]

Busse is recovering from MCL surgery.

[Deleted]

And Cassie was set to play in Italy -- I believe -- until she found out she needed surgery. Again.

[Gorf]

Is that her 3rd knee surgery now?

*ouch*

[Wolfgang]

Wow! Cassie Busse has three knees?

[Gorf]

You never saw her play?

[PierreAmi]

wolfgang said:

Wow! Cassie Busse has three knees?

They should build her a statue too!

[Deleted]

Let's see how Houghtelling's turns out. We might be better off with a Bobblehead Night, if the likeness is going to be suspect anyhow.

[PierreAmi]

I still have not figured out who the Misty May bobblehead is supposed to look like.

[Wolfgang]

If someone would send me a Misty May bobblehead, I will answer this question for you.

[inomothanu]

The first tryout at Creighton had two players with National team potential. The best, by far, was Atherstone from Cal Poly. Had there not been some sort of glitch w/ Cal Poly SID, this kid would have been honorable mention All-American...at least. She is the best back row attacker in the nation - yes, better than Pavan

[beachman]

FYI Folks. there are coaches out there who have been burned too many times by the National Team Folks.....sent too many healthy players off to the OTC only to see hurt ones return.....that may be the reason why some coaches aren't in a big hurry to send their players off to Colorado Springs!