PG South/East/West/North: District squads looking to earn national acclaim
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Hempfield's Tom Stewart will compete for the Pittsburgh Volleyball Club at the national championships in Austin, Texas.
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The Pittsburgh Volleyball Club will make its national debut at the United States Junior National Volleyball Championships, which begin today at the Austin Convention Center in Texas.
"We have six boys' teams entered in different age bracket tournaments," said Dan Schall, director of the Pittsburgh Volleyball Club. "There will be more than 400 teams competing in five age brackets in both open and club divisions."
The Pittsburgh Volleyball Club has one entry in the 18-and-under open division, the most competitive of the tournaments. Derry coach Shawn Spencer and Fox Chapel coach Phil O'Keeffe are co-coaches of the 14-player squad.
"Anybody can enter a team in the club division," Spencer said. "You must qualify in the open division. Every team must qualify by placing at a qualifying tournament."
The 18-and-under squad earned its berth by winning a qualifying tournament that took place in Rochester, N.Y., in January.
"We held workouts for three months over the winter and entered four tournaments." Spencer said. "We won three tournaments and were beaten only once in the other tournament."
The headliners on the 18-and-under open division team are North Allegheny setter Michael Krepp, Ambridge outside hitter Nick Goodell and Fox Chapel outside hitter Dan Tumblin.
Krepp, a St. Francis, Pa. recruit, and Tumblin, a Stanford recruit, were co-MVP's in the WPIAL in Class AAA. Goodell, a Penn State recruit, was the WPIAL Class AA MVP.
"Playing with the PVC has been a great experience," said Krepp, widely considered the best setter in the WPIAL. "When you consider the talent and depth we have on this team, I think we have a legitimate shot at winning the whole thing."
First Published July 1, 2010 12:00 am
