NO TEB OOK
U.S. Youth Sitting Team earns medal in Brazil The U.S. Girls’ Youth Sitting
Team took home the silver medal from the Youth Parapan American Games in Sao Paulo, Brazil, after falling to Brazil 25-15, 23-25, 25-19 in the gold-medal match on March 24.
This was the first time a U.S.
volleyball team had competed at the Youth Parapan American Games and the group had limited time to practice together under U.S. Head Coach Elliot Blake. The U.S. team achieved one
of its goals Friday by taking a set off the host country, something third-place Venezuela did not do. Host Brazil’s team included a player who had competed on its 2016 bronze-medal winning Paralympic team.
“I am so happy with how our girls played today,” Blake said. “They kept to our system throughout the match, even when Brazil started getting desperate and attacked repeatedly on first and second contacts. There were some exciting rallies, some calls that could have gone either way, but at the end of the day, the girls played their best and have no regrets.”
The American squad earned
two wins over Venezuela during the competition, but dropped both matches against host Brazil. The U.S. roster was comprised of Alyssa Cleland (Edmond, Oklahoma), Annie Flood (Salem, Oregon), Autum Reagan (Wel- lington, Kansas) and Nina McVay (Mooresville, North Carolina).
Virtue to take on dual role as Kiraly’s assistant
Erin Virtue has accepted a position with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team as a consultant assistant coach working with Karch Kiraly, the program’s head coach, for the 2020 Olympic quadrennial. Virtue, who was an AVCA honorable mention all-American setter while playing for University of Illinois from 2001-2005, is cur- rently the associate head coach at Northwestern University. “Erin has done strong work
“
The opportunity to coach the United States National Team is an honor. Erin’s hard work and dedica- tion have earned her the respect of the volleyball community. We are so proud of her and thrilled that she will be representing the United States, while at the same time continuing to help build a nationally competitive program
at Northwestern. — Shane Davis, Northwestern
working at Northwestern in the split role, is in her second season working with the Wildcat vol- leyball team.
” “I would like to thank
In March, the U.S. Girls’ Youth Sitting Team earned the silver medal at the Youth Parapan Ameri- can Games in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo: USAV)
coaching and supporting USA programs over the long haul, but she’s much more than that,” Kira- ly said. “She’s dedicated to helping the people around her be the best version of themselves, and doing so with integrity and skill. Since that’s a prime aspiration here, that makes Erin a great fit, and makes us excited to see where our work together can lead.” “I am truly honored and humbled to be called up to work with Karch and staff throughout this quad,” Virtue said. “I am excited to learn under Karch, as well as provide my best efforts for our USA athletes and the entire USA program in preparation for the 2020 Olympic Games.” Virtue is no stranger to the USA gym as a player and coach within USA Volleyball’s High Performance pipeline. She served as head coach of the U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team that cap- tured silver at the 2016 NORCE- CA Women’s U18 Continental
20 | VOLLEYBALLUSA • Digital Issue at
usavolleyball.org/mag
Championship and qualifying Team USA to this year’s FIVB Women’s U18 World Champion- ship.
As part of her work within
USA Volleyball’s High Perfor- mance pipeline, she observed the coaching methods employed by Kiraly with the U.S. Women’s National Team and implement- ed the same fundamen-
Erin Virtue
tals within the youth program she led. In total, Virtue has spent 11 seasons coaching in the High Performance program, mentor- ing athletes in the Select (U16), Youth (U18) and Junior (U20) age groups. Virtue, who will continue
Northwestern Athletics, specifi- cally head coach Shane Davis and vice president of athletics and recreation Dr. Jim Phillips, for their support in this endeavor,” Virtue said. “I am committed to working to help both programs in any manner possible. It should be a fun four years!” Virtue has the full support of
Northwestern as she embarks on this dual coaching role. “The opportunity to coach
the United States National Team is an honor,” Northwestern Head Volleyball Coach Shane Davis said. “Erin’s hard work and dedi- cation have earned her the respect of the volleyball community. We are so proud of her and thrilled that she will be representing the United States, while at the same time continuing to help build a nationally competitive program at Northwestern.” Virtue served as an assistant
coach at University of Michigan for five years before arriving at Northwestern. Virtue has been recognized nationally for her coaching ability.
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