Erin Byrd, who recently completed her senior season with the University of Wisconsin volleyball team, has been invited to be a member of the 2003 USA women’s volleyball training team, selected by head coach Toshi Yoshida.
The team begins training today in Colorado Springs, Colo. Thirteen players will be vying for roster positions on the U.S. women’s national team that will be competing at the Montreux Volley Masters, the Pan American Cup, the World Grand Prix, the Pan American Games and the NORCECA Continental Championships later this year. The NORCECA championship serves as a qualifier for the World Cup in Japan in November. The World Cup is the first Olympic qualifier, with the top three teams earning a trip to Athens, Greece, in 2004.
Byrd joins 12 other athletes who were invited to train as part of the national team: Erin Aldrich (Texas); Wiz Bachman (UCLA); Paige Benjamin (Washington); Lindsey Berg (Minnesota); Dana Burkholder (Arizona); Sarah Drury (Louisville); Addie Hauschild (Pacific); Brittany Hochevar (Long Beach State); Kim Kester (Northern Iowa); Tracy Stalls (Front Range VBC); Suzanne Stonebarger (Nevada); and Elisha Thomas (Long Beach State).
Byrd, a 6-foot outside hitter, was a unanimous all-Big Ten selection as a senior this past season. She garnered AVCA second-team All-American honors after leading Wisconsin in kills per game (4.34) and digs (353). She was a member of the USA Volleyball A2 team last summer.
The Glen Ellyn, Ill., native was a four-year starter for the Badgers and ranks among the UW’s best all-around players. She ranks among the top players in career kills (6th with 1,270), attack attempts (6th/3,527), service aces (8th/120), and digs (2nd/1397). Byrd became only the fourth player in UW history to record over 1,000 kills and 1,200 digs in a career.
— compiled from staff reports
