NOTEBOOK
USA Volleyball Junior Nationals set for Dallas and Columbus U
SA Volleyball has awarded its 2012 Girls’ National Junior Championships (GJNC) to the City of Columbus, Ohio and the Boys’ Junior National Championships (BJNC) to the City of Dallas.
The GJNC is set for June 28 to July 7 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, while the BJNC will be held July 1-8 at the Dallas Convention Center. The USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior Na- tional Championships attracts nearly 9,500 athletes and over 20,000 spectators annu- ally. The tournament crowns 19 champions in age divisions ranging from 12 to 18. The event, showcasing the top talent from across the nation, also draws hundreds of college recruiters looking for the next stars for their programs. “USA Volleyball is excited that its
Region. Nearly 10,000 teams and more than 116,000 volleyball players have com- peted inside the convention center since it opened in 1993. The USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior Na- tional Championships, which will be in its 33rd edition in 2012, attracts approximate- ly 400 of the best junior boys’ teams from across the country with 4,500-plus athletes along with families, fans and offi cials in attendance.
HELLO COLUMBUS: The USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships are headed to Ohio.
Girls’ Junior National Championships will be in Ohio,” USA Volleyball Senior Director Tom Pingel said. “That part of the country has a long and strong tradition in volleyball, and we look forward to partnering with the Ohio Valley Region of USA Volleyball to add to that tradi- tion. While it may be the fi rst time in a number of years for USA Volleyball to have one of its
Championships conducted in Columbus, the city and venue is very experienced in hosting major club volleyball tournaments through the Ohio Valley Region.”
Columbus is no stranger to girls’ youth volleyball and USA Volleyball sanctioned events. The Greater Columbus Convention Center hosts several national and regional tournaments each year run by the Ohio Valley
The event has fi ve Open Division titles at each age group between 14 and 18. In addition, seven Club Division titles will be contested in the 12-year-old category through under-18 for any club wishing to attend the event without going through the bid tournaments for Open Division spots. “USA Volleyball is pleased to bring our signature event for boys’ volleyball to the city of Dallas,” Pingel said. “The city has become a tremendous partner in showcasing volleyball at the regional and national levels for both genders and all age groups. The boys’ teams that will arrive in Dallas next year will have an excellent venue to compete in and great city environment to enjoy.”
young Florida beach volleyball sister duo is revving it up on USA Volleyball’s Florida Beach Junior Tour. Marley Banton (age 9) and Ashlyn Banton (age 7) show up for tournaments with sizzling jump serves, uncanny ball control and a tourna- ment nap schedule
Young Florida beach pair set some lofty goals after their naps A
The daughters of a pair of volleyball fanat- ics and educators, Amy and Ted, the Bantons are already experienced players who both started participating in volleyball camps at age three. The pair began by playing pepper with balloons inside their Saint Augustine home, which now includes three younger siblings and no TVs for distraction. Amy and Ted noticed their daughters’ bal- loon fundamentals were exceptional, so they weren’t completely full of hot air when they got Marley on a club team at age six. Ashlyn soon followed.
“They have been playing against 12-year- olds their entire lives and are not intimidated,” says Amy Banton, who played collegiately in- doors. “They like wearing black bikinis because they think it makes them look tough.” The sisters pattern their game after Kerri
Walsh and Misty May-Treanor, mimicking their moves. Marley is almost fi ve-feet tall at age
16 | VOLLEYBALLUSA
nine and her Walsh-like arms make her easy to set for Ash- lyn, a 4-3 defensive special- ist. The pair usually attract a crowd to watch their matches. The sisters are exactly two years apart in age, both born on Nov. 15 as is their younger brother which further adds to the intrigue surrounding this family
Amy says strollers and a regulation beach ball are part of her around-the-clock summer traveling equipment. No trip to the grocery store occurs without the volleyball in tow.
Stamina remains an adversary at long-day beach tournaments at Siesta Key or Ft. Lauderdale. “They have been stopped right before quarters when they are clear- ly better than their opponent
MARLEY & ME: Ashlyn, left, and Marley Banton form a dynamic beach duo.
because its “nap time” by the late afternoon.” says Amy. “It’s frustrating right now as they are so young, they are clearly out of steam. Wait
until they grow out of that!” Ashlyn, the me part of Marley & Me, thinks the nap thing will eventually sort itself out. When asked to come up with another weakness in her game, she responded with: “I don’t have any weaknesses. (LOL!) Covering the court cause my legs are still growing.”
The elder Marley
maintains her laser focus about her beach volleyball goals. “Play every point like it’s game point and be an Olympic competitor someday.”
How far the girls
actually go in the sport will remain unclear for a decade or two. At their ages, they could still be derailed by a change of commitment to
Brownies. For now, however, they will ride the beach volleyball wave and insist they will not back down from any challenges.
PHOTO: DANIEL SHIREY
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58