From High School to National Team

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- USA Volleyball today announced junior national team standout Tracy Stalls has agreed to become the first participant in the newly formed USA National Team Development Program. Stalls, a 6' 3" middle blocker, is a senior at Lakewood High School in Arvada, Colo., and has chosen to train with the national team instead of accepting a collegiate scholarship offer.

"This is a landmark time for the future of USA Volleyball High Performance programs," said Tom Pingel, USA Volleyball's Director of High Performance Programs. "We have had discussions with other athletes in the past about this opportunity. Tracy is the first athlete to feel that the opportunity was right for her."

Stalls will begin her national team training responsibilities after she competes on the USA Women's Junior National Team in the summer of 2002. During her training Stalls will be able to take college level classes, but will have a primary responsibility of training. However, the program is designed to preserve her future NCAA eligibility.