Aug. 15, 2006

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Former Missouri Tiger shot-putter Christian Cantwell and former Tiger volleyball setter Lindsey Hunter will both spend time in Europe this week with their respective U.S.-national teams. Cantwell will be with a USA Track & Field squad in England, participating in quadrangular meet versus China, Russia, and the United Kingdom, while Hunter will spend time in Europe as part of the USA Volleyball team in its first of three stops on the FIVB World Grand Prix tour.

Cantwell (Eldon, Mo.) on Tuesday competes in an IAAF Grand Prix event in Tallinn, Estonia, before traveling to Birmingham, U.K., for the Friday, Saturday, quadrangular meet event dubbed the Norwich Union International. The 2004 IAAF World Indoor Champ is currently ranked second in the World in his event, behind American Reese Hoffa, who will also compete in the quad. The six-time Big 12 Champ is ranked second in the World despite having the three longest throws in the 2006 season.

Hunter (Papillion, Neb.) is one of two setters on the USA Volleyball roster that will compete in the FIVB World Grand Prix. Team USA will have week-long stops in Poland, the Chinese island colony of Macau, and Thailand, ultimately competing to finish among the top five of 12 teams for the finals in Italy in early September. In the first week of competition, August 16-20 in Poland, USA will compete against the host country along with Italy and the Dominican Republic. Next, USA will travel to Macau to compete in the second group with China, Brazil, and, again, the Dominican Republic before traveling to Thailand to face Korea, Russia, and the hosts in Bangkok.

Hunter is challenging for a spot on the USA team that will compete in the FIVB World Championships in Japan in November.

The 2006 Mizzou Volleyball campaign kicks off with the annual Black & Gold Match on Wednesday. The Tigers will face their first competition on August 25 and 26 in the Long Beach State Invitational.