Paralympic qualifier begins Friday for USA men's, women's sitting teams

by Paul Soriano USA Volleyball Manager, Public Relations & Publications

The 2003 Para Pan Am Games sitting volleyball competition, which serves as the only qualifier for the 2004 Paralympic Games for the USA men's and women's national teams, begins Friday, Dec. 5 in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

For the United States to advance to next year's Paralympics in Athens, Greece, it must first win its respective competitions in Argentina. The tournaments for both teams run through Tuesday, Dec. 9.

Both teams practiced extensively at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., two weekends ago (Nov. 21-23) to gear up for the crucial tournament.

The first-year USA women's sitting team, guided by head coach Mike Hulett (Des Plaines, Ill.), is eager to take part in its first official competition.

Brazil and the United States are the only two teams entered on the women's side. The two countries will play each other five times, and the team that wins at least three of the five matches earns the bid to next year's Paralympics.

"I think we have a very good chance to qualify," said Hulett, who coached the USA men's sitting team at the 1996 and 2000 Paralympics. "While we haven't been together that long, everyone is spending considerable time each week working on their skills, which shows when we do get together.

"On Saturday (Nov. 22) we had an opportunity to scrimmage the team from Colorado State University-Pueblo, and that was a watershed moment," he added. "The entire team played as well as I've ever seen them play and it's at the perfect time."

The women's team includes: Allison Ahlfeldt (Costa Mesa, Calif.); Bonnie Brawner (Carrollton, Texas); Lori Daniels (Bedford, Texas); Brenda Maymon (Sellersberg, Ind.); Gina McWilliams (Flower Mound, Texas); Erica Moulton (Queensbury, N.Y.); Erica Moyers (Athens, Ala.); Penny Ricker (Green Bay, Wis.); Deborah Vosler (Eyota, Minn.); and Lora Webster (Cave Creek, Ariz.).

Denise Van De Walle (Bowling Green, Ohio), head coach of the women's volleyball program at Bowling Green State University, serves as the assistant coach of the women's sitting team.

On the men's side, Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba and the United States will play a double round-robin tournament on the first three days (Dec. 5-7) to determine the top four seeds. The semifinals (No. 1 vs. No. 4 and No. 2 vs. No. 3) will be played on Monday, Dec. 8, and the winners of those two matches will square off on Tuesday, Dec. 9 for the right to go to Athens.

"We believe our chances of qualifying for the Paralympics are very good," said Bill Hamiter (Bethany, Okla.), head coach of the men's team. "We will be facing some new teams whom we have not been able to study. I am sure they will be quality teams. We will have to be at our best to win."

The men's team includes: Rene Aquino (Chicago, Ill.); Joey Evans (Springville, Utah); Essam Hamido (Nashville, Tenn.); Brad Johnson (Tampa, Fla.); Tracey Lange (Waunakee, Wis.); Curtis Lease (Naperville, Ill.); Jeff MacMunn (Sugar Hill, Ga.); Paul Moran (Glenview, Ill.); Robert Osbahr (Freehold, N.J.); Brent Rasmussen (Omaha, Neb.); and Chris Seilkop (DeLand, Fla.).

The assistant coach of the USA men's sitting team is Dixie Collins (Burke, Va.).

"The last three training camps have helped us specifically train for the Pan Am's," said Hamiter. "Our last camp was good for our final preparation. We built a significant amount of confidence through the weekend, which is what we need going into the qualifying tournament.

"We have been pushing hard to get all of the players working together and as a team," he added. "I believe that is the most important factor in us winning at the Pan Am's."

Sitting volleyball is played with athletes sitting on the floor. All team members have some type of disability to their lower body such as paralysis from polio, or single- or double-amputation. The net is about three feet high and the court is 10 meters by 6 meters with a 2-meter attack line. The only major differences between the standing game and sitting game besides the smaller court and lower net are: 1) players can block the serve; and 2) one "cheek" must be in contact with the floor when a person makes contact with the ball.

Note: The coaching staffs of both the men's and women's sitting teams are always eager to identify new players. Athletes interested in participating or finding out more information about USA Sitting Volleyball for either gender can visit the USA Volleyball web site at www.usavolleyball.org (click on "DISABLED") or contact men's coach Bill Hamiter (bill.hamiter@usav.org) or women's coach Mike Hulett (mike.hulett@usav.org).

For more information, go to the USA Volleyball web site.