June 27, 2005
COLUMBIA, Mo. - For the second-straight summer University of Missouri volleyball setter Lindsey Hunter was invited to become a part of the USA Volleyball team. Hunter, who is entering her senior season as a Tiger and has already led the Big 12 Conference for her first three years in assists, earned a spot on the A2 or `second national team' following the tryouts. She was one of 32 selected from a tryout held in Colorado Springs, Colo., in which four other Tigers (Lisa Boyd, Jessica Vander Kooi, Nicole Wilson, and Tatum Ailes) took part.
USA Volleyball hired "Jenny" Lang Ping as the national-team head coach and Ping uses a style that Hunter is familiar with.
"Being from China, Jenny's style of coaching is different than here in the U.S.," Hunter said. "In China, they focus more on skills and repetitions. Our assistant coach, Deng Yang has prepared me with that style of coaching and it was a great experience to work with national coaches that combine the American-style of athleticism with the Chinese style. In all, I think this will strengthen our national team for the long-run and make us a force in the 2008 Olympics. Jenny was a tough coach, but good"
In 2004, Hunter's first year with national-squad, the training team she competed with went to a tournament in Atlanta. This year, Hunter and the A2 team was in Denver.
"I had a great time with the people I met this year, it was just another great experience that will help me grow as a volleyball player," Hunter said.
Hunter, majoring in business administration, returns to Missouri for her senior season and has been named to AVCA All-Central Region and All-Big 12 teams three years in-a-row, leading the conference in set assists for all three of those years. In addition, Hunter was named as an second-team AVCA All-American in 2004.
Missouri ended the 2004 season with an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Championships, a third-place showing in the Big 12 Conference, and a No. 24 national-ranking, finishing the season 20-9. This season the team will compete against no fewer than six teams that ended the 2004 season ranked in the national top 25, four of which come from the Big 12.
"I can't wait to start this upcoming season," Hunter said. "It's sad to know this is my senior year, but with the group of girls we have coming together this year, I'm so optimistic to what we can do this season."
The Tigers will open their home schedule September 2nd, when they host Utah in the first game of the three-team Tiger Invitational. Tickets will be available soon through mutigers.com or by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS.
For more information on the USA Volleyball teams, visit usavolleyball.org.