Dunaway To Tour China With Pac-12 Squad
April 17, 2013
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - The Pac-12 Conference announced today plans to send an all-star women's volleyball team to China in June 2013. Joining the squad will be graduating Husky senior Kelcey Dunaway.
While the returning Husky players are getting a taste of Europe this June, Dunaway will enjoy a trip of her own. The summer all-star team - made up of 12 Pac-12 student-athletes - will play at least six matches against Chinese Professional Club Teams over two weeks in Beijing and Shanghai. Dunaway should provide some leadership as she is the only senior amongst the 12 players, and one of three middle blockers.
Leading the trip will be USC head coach Mick Haley. Joining Haley on the coaching staff are fellow Pac-12 coaches Beth Launiere (Utah) and Jen Greeny (Washington State) who will serve as his assistant coaches on the trip.
In addition to the matches, the student-athletes will enjoy cultural and sightseeing visits in China at the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace and other attractions.
"This type of tour can be a transformative moment for our student-athletes," said Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott. "In addition to the competition on the court, they will return to their teams with a meaningful life experience of visiting another country and learning more about another culture."
Competition against Chinese teams competition is not new for Pac-12 women's volleyball players. In addition to international play like the Olympics, four Pac-12 women's volleyball teams hosted the Jiangsu Volleyball Team from Nanjing, China, one of the leading professional volleyball teams in China, for matches during the 2012 season.
The Pac-12 has a storied history in women's volleyball with 14 NCAA titles, the most of any Conference. This success extends across the Conference with seven different Pac-12 teams advancing to the national semifinals since 2001. The Pac-12 also features the nation's best players with the AVCA National Player of the Year coming from the Pac-12 in each of the last three years.
This summer's All-Star team was selected by the coaching staff and Pac-12 liaison and includes two setters, one libero, three middle blockers, and six outside hitters from Pac-12 teams. The team features some of the top talent in the country and the Conference. Five were voted All-Pac-12 in 2012. In total, 10 of the 12 universities in the Conference are represented. The team includes two freshmen, five sophomores, four juniors and one senior.
2013 PAC-12 VOLLEYBALL ALL-STAR TEAM ROSTER
NAME COLLEGE YEAR IN SCHOOL* HEIGHT POSITION
Inky Ajanaku Stanford Freshman 6-3/190 cm Middle Blocker
Liz Brenner Oregon Sophomore 6-1/185 cm Outside Hitter
Hayley Crone USC Sophomore 5-9/175 cm Setter
Shelby Dalton Utah Sophomore 6-1/185 cm Outside Hitter
Kelcey Dunaway Washington Senior 6-2/188 cm Middle Blocker
Macey Gardner Arizona State Freshman 6-0/182 cm Outside Hitter
Marcelina Glab Washington State Junior 6-2/188 cm Middle Hitter
Natalie Hagglund USC Junior 5-9/175 cm Libero
Madi Kingdon Arizona Sophomore 6-1/185 cm Outside Hitter
Arica Nassar Oregon State Sophomore 6-1/185 cm Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker
Lauren Plum Oregon Junior 5-5/175 cm Setter
Kelly Reeves UCLA Junior 6-0/182 cm Outside Hitter
Head Coach: Mick Haley, USC
Assistant Coaches: Jen Greeny, Washington State; Beth Launiere, Utah
* Year in school based on 2012-13 academic year.
