Stalls Invited to Train with U.S. National Team

Lincoln ? USA Volleyball announced Monday that University of Nebraska middle blocker Tracy Stalls is one of three current college athletes invited to train with the U.S. National Team in January.

Stalls, a two-time selection, joins the Stanford duo of Foluke Akinradewo and Cynthia Barboza as the three players who were invited based on their performances with the U.S. National Team in 2007.

Stalls trained with the U.S. National Team over the summer and started three matches for Team USA at the Pan American Cup in Colima, Mexico last June. The senior middle blocker averaged 2.25 kills per game while hitting .615 on 39 swings, as Team USA went 3-0 with Stalls in the lineup.

A two-time All-Big 12 performer and second-team All-American, Stalls leads the Big 12 and ranks third nationally in hitting percentage (.472), averaging 2.79 kills and 1.09 blocks per game this season for the second-ranked Huskers, who won a share of the Big 12 title this season.

In addition, junior Jordan Larson was one of 13 players chosen to attend an invitation-only tryout with the U.S. National Team in January. A first-team All-American in 2006, Larson picked up her second straight All-Big 12 award on Monday and averages 3.48 kills and 3.19 digs per game in helping Nebraska to a 27-1 regular-season record and the No. 2 overall seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Larson is second in the Big 12 in service aces (0.46/gm) and ninth in points per game (4.33).

The second-ranked Huskers are in action this weekend as they host first and second round matches at the NU Coliseum.

Editor’s note: Nebraska senior captain Tracy Stalls is featured in Randy York's N-sider. Check out the four highly effective traits she uses as a leader of the Huskers’ defending national championship team.