Three Huskers Named to U.S. Roster

Lincoln -- A trio of former Husker volleyball players are among the 19 players on the United States’ preliminary roster for a pair of upcoming international tournaments.

The 19-player roster includes former Huskers Nancy Metcalf, Jordan Larson and Tracy Stalls, as Team USA will compete in the Pan American Cup in Miami beginning Friday June 26 and the 2009 FIVB World Grand Prix next month.

All three players participated in the U.S. National Team’s intrasquad scrimmage in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., over the weekend, as Metcalf led the Blue Team to a 25-23, 19-25, 25-17, 25-12 victory with a match-high 22 points, including 17 kills and five blocks.  Metcalf, who missed most of the last year following shoulder surgery, is one of the most experienced players on Team USA’s roster. She has been a part of the national team since 2000. She is one of three former Olympians on the 19-player roster, while Stalls was an alternate on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Games roster.

Larson, who joined the national team full-time this month after earning a trio of All-America awards as a Husker, paced the Red team with 13 points, including 13 kills and 14 digs, while Stalls, who has been a part of the national team program since 2003, had five points while starting the final two sets for the Red squad.

The Women’s Pan American Cup will be held in Miami June 26 to July 4. The 12-team international tournament played at University of Miami and Florida International includes the top two teams from the 2008 Olympic Games. Reigning gold medalist Brazil and silver medalist United States headline the list of countries participating. The tournament’s top three finishing teams from NORCECA and the top finishing team from South America earn spots into the 2010 FIVB World Grand Prix.