LMU HISTORY
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
2007 REVIEW
UNIVERSITY
2008 LIONS
OUTLOOK
MEDIA
Heather Hughes
54
American Cup was used primarily to evaluate After “growing up” in the U.S. Wom- young talent for Team USA. Continuing to en’s National Team system, serving as a U.S. improve with every day, Hughes was singled Women’s National A2 Team alternate in out amongst the group of players who earned 2007, a USA Volleyball Junior National Team a bid to train with the National Team. “You alternate in 2006 and U.S. Girls’ Youth A2 take this group that has been training since alternate in 2003 and 2004, Heather Hughes January, Heather Hughes is one that definitefinally received her shot to show her talent on ly sticks out,” U.S. National Team Assistant one of volleyball’s highest stages. The native Coach Tom Hogan said. “She has impressed of Fallbrook, Calif. competed in a 13-player her teammates and coaching staff, while her tryout for the U.S. Women’s National Volley- level of play continues to elevate. It is imporball Team from January 7-12 at the Olympic tant for players like her to gain this internaTraining Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. tional experience at the Pan American Cup.” Playing alongside the U.S. Women’s National Seizing every opportunity to impress the Training Team, the tryout participants were coaching staff, Hughes compiled 35 points in put through a rigorous week of drills and 27 sets at the Pan American Cup, including conditioning culminating with morning six- averages of 1.04 kills, 0.15 aces, 0.14 blocks on-six scrimmages on Jan. 11 and Jan. 12. and 1.30 points per set. Showing versatilUpon completion of the tryout, the coach- ity at an extremely high level of competition, Hughes took over at ing staff evaluated the the libero position due talent and asked sevPhoto Courtesy of USA Volleyball to illness, playing her eral players, including first-ever match at the Hughes, to return to position in the fifthColorado Springs and place match of the Pan train full-time during American Cup, and the spring with the received 46 of the 95 U.S. Women’s Naservice chances comtional Training Team. piling an 83 positive When asked about the percent. selection, Hughes said, “I am very excited to have this opportunity to play with some of the world’s best players, and after always being on the border of making the team and being selected as an alternate for the A2 squad the past few years, I finally made the team. I always knew that playing volleyball at such a high level was what I wanted to do.” Following successful showings in practices and scrimmages, Hughes was named to the U.S. Women’s National Training Volleyball Team travel squad that took a three-week training tour of China, leading the team to four different locations for training sessions and exhibition matches against Chinese club teams. In those matches, Hughes scored 68 points as the primary opposite hitter, tallying 60 kills, four blocks and four aces as Team USA won five of eight matches with a young squad. Hughes continued to make headlines as a part of the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball squad, this time earning a spot to play in the Pan American Cup from May 30 to June 7 at Mexicali and Tijuana, Mexico. The Pan THE HEART OF A LION
Photo Courtesy of NORCECA
Photo Courtesy of USA Volleyball
2008 LMU VOLLEYBALL