Metcalf Named to U.S. Olympic Volleyball Team

Colorado Springs, Colo. ? Former University of Nebraska volleyball All-American Nancy Metcalf (Hull, Iowa) was one of 12 players selected to the U.S. Women’s Olympic Team, as USA Volleyball announced its selections late Friday afternoon.

Metcalf made her first appearance on the U.S. National Team in 2000, but will be one of five first-time Olympians on the 2004 squad. The team, which is currently competing at the World Grand Prix in Asia, is coached by Toshi Yoshida and is ranked second in the world going into next month’s Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Nancy Metcalf (USA Volleyball)

Metcalf enjoyed one of the most decorated careers in school history. A three-time first-team All-American at NU, Metcalf earned Big 12 Player-of-the-Year accolades in both 1999 and 2001. She finished her career in third place on the school’s career kills list with 1,603.

"It is a great honor for Nancy to represent the United States in the greatest sporting event for volleyball," Nebraska Coach John Cook said. "To be one of the final 12 players selected from across the U.S. is a testament not only to Nancy’s athletic ability, but also to her perseverance and work ethic."

Metcalf was one of two opposite hitters chosen for the 12-member team, joining former Long Beach State All-American Tayyiba Haneef (Laguna Hills, Calif.). Other members of Team USA include: Setters ? Robyn Ah Mow-Santos (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Lindsey Berg (Honolulu, Hawaii); Middle Blockers?Wiz Bachman (Lakeville, Minn.); Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Danielle Scott (Baton Rouge, La.); Outside Hitters?Tara Cross-Battle (Houston, Texas), Ogonna Nnamani (Normal, Ill.), Keba Phipps (Las Vegas, Calif.) and Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah); and Libero?Stacy Sykora (Burleson, Texas).

According to Cook, Metcalf’s drive to earn a sport on the 2004 team began more than four years ago when she made a strong bid to make the 2000 Olympic team.

"The seeds for her success were planted more than four years ago when she trained with the National Team to learn more about international volleyball," Cook said. "As a coach, it is rewarding to see a player have a dream like making the Olympic Team, and see it come true because of her dedication and hard work. She is a great role model for younger players because it shows you can accomplish whatever dreams and goals you set."

Metcalf’s selection marks the fourth straight Olympiad that a Husker volleyball player has represented the United States. She joins two-time Olympian Lori Endicott (1992, 1996) and former U.S. team captain Allison Weston (2000).

For the women's Olympic indoor volleyball competition, which starts on Aug. 14, the 12 qualified teams are split into two pools. Pool A is made up of Brazil, Greece, Italy, Japan, Kenya and Korea, while Pool B consists of China, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Russia and the USA.

The U.S women will be challenged right off the bat: the team will play top-ranked China to begin play on Saturday, Aug. 14. The women will then play Germany (Aug. 16), the Dominican Republic (Aug. 18), 2000 silver medalist Russia (Aug. 20) and three-time defending gold medalist Cuba (Aug. 22) to wrap-up pool play.

2004 U.S. Olympic Team

No. Name Hgt. Pos. School/Club Hometown1 Keba Phipps 6'3" OH MRV/Minas (Brazil) Las Vegas, Nev.2 Danielle Scott 6'3" MB Long Beach State Baton Rouge, La.3 Tayyiba Haneef 6'7" OPP Long Beach State Laguna Hills, Calif.4 Lindsey Berg 5'8" S Minnesota Honolulu, Hawaii5 Stacy Sykora 5'10" L Texas A&M Burleson, Texas6 Wiz Bachman 6'3" MB UCLA Lakeville, Minn.7 Heather Bown 6'3" MB Hawai'i Yorba Linda, Calif.9 Ogonna Nnamani 6'1" OH Stanford Normal, Ill.11 Robyn Ah Mow-Santos 5'9" S Hawai'i Honolulu, Hawaii12 Nancy Metcalf 6'1" OPP Nebraska Hull, Iowa13 Tara Cross-Battle 6'0" OH Long Beach State Houston, Texas15 Logan Tom 6'1" OH Stanford Salt Lake City, Utah

2004 USA Women’s Olympic Volleyball Team Quick Facts
Years - 1964, 1968, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004
Medals - 1984 (Silver); 1992 (Bronze)

Multiple Olympians (7)
4-Tara Cross Battle (1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004)
3-Danielle Scott (1996, 2000 and 2004)
2-Robyn Ah Mow-Santos (2000 and 2004)
2-Heather Bown (2000 and 2004)
2-Keba Phipps (1988 and 2004)
2-Stacy Sykora (2000 and 2004)
2-Logan Tom (2000 and 2004)

First-Time Olympians (5)
Wiz Bachman
Lindsey Berg
Tayyiba Haneef
Nancy Metcalf
Ogonna Nnamani

Olympians by State
California (2):  Heather Bown; Tayyiba Haneef
Hawaii (2):  Robyn Ah Mow-Santos; Lindsey Berg
Texas (2):  Tara Cross-Battle; Stacy Sykora
Illinois (1):  Ogonna Nnamani
Iowa (1):  Nancy Metcalf
Minnesota (1):  Wiz Bachman
Louisiana (1):  Danielle Scott
Nevada (1):  Keba Phipps
Utah (1):  Logan Tom

Olympians by College
Long Beach State (3):  Tara Cross-Battle; Tayyiba Haneef; Danielle Scott
Hawaii (2):  Robyn Ah-Mow Santos; Heather Bown
Stanford (2):  Ogonna Nnamani; Logan Tom
Minnesota (1):  Lindsey Berg
Nebraska (1):  Nancy Metcalf
Texas A&M (1):  Stacy Sykora
UCLA (1):  Wiz Bachman