Haley Howell: USA Volleyball High Performance Championships
by Andy Morales on Jul. 28, 2011, under SportsPHOTOS Haley Howell: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andymorales/sets/72157627303285286/
Salpointe setter Haley Howell has only practiced with her USA GYA2 (White) teammates for less than two weeks but she plays as if she has been setting her hitters for several months.
It was good thing because her team came up against the USA National team that has actually been playing and practicing together since last fall and they needed everything Howell could give them.
Haley Howell is absorbing knowledge and valuable experience as one of the few players from Southern Arizona to be placed on a USA team.
USA White is coached by James Madison head coach Lauren Steinbrecher and Howell sees that as one of the “amazing” experiences she has gone through this month.
“I’m playing with athletes who can bring it every time and for coaches who have national experience,” explained Howell after her match with the national team.
“It’s just an amazing experience for me.”
Howell’s team is currently 3-3 with big losses to Mexico and a tough loss to the national team.
Howell did not play in the match against Mexico and she did not make an appearance until the second set of their loss to the national team but she made the most of her opportunity.
USA White dropped the first set 25-15 in an uninspired effort defined by five service errors, four aces from the national team and only two recorded assists.
Howell was called into action for the second set and, by the time she recorded her third assist, the score was tied 9-9. The turnaround was all too obvious.
But, it was the national team after all so USA White eventually fell back 21-14. Howell finished the set with eight assists and helped her team battle back to a 25-21 loss.
They dropped the third and final set 25-19 with Howell recording seven more assists.
All teams now enter bracket play at the Tucson Convention Center.
LOCAL CONNECTIONS
Haley Howell (Zona VBC, Salpointe, Jr., Setter) A2 Youth Girls National White Team
Taylor Reiter (Zona VBC, Rincon/University, Soph, MB) AZHP Girls Select Team
Erin Ferber (Dinamo VBC, CDO, Soph, MB) AZHP Girls Select Team
Andrew Magill (APV, Catalina Foothills, Sr, Setter) AZHP Boys Youth Team
Kyle McMinimy (APV, Sabino, Sr, Libero) AZHP Boys Youth Team
Zachary Malis (APV, Sabino, Fr, OH) AZHP Boys Select Team
Matt Dyck (Coach Mt. View Boys) Head Coach AZHP Boys Select team
David Thistle (Coach Catalina Foothills Boys and Girls) Assistant Coach AZHP Boys Select team
AJ Malis (Zona VBC Director) Director Arizona High Performance Program
SCHEDULE & RESULTS
AZHP Boys Select (2-4)
Thursday, July 28
Badger Boys Reg (BDG) 3-2 (21-25, 23-25, 25-20, 25-15, 15-5)
Over IOWA HP BOYS (IOW) 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-14)
Friday, July 29
Silver: vs. winner match 1, Noon
AZHP Boys Youth (4-2)
Thursday, July 28
over USA BYCT White (CBW) 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 25-21, 25-19)
over Aloha Reg. BIY (ALB) 3-1 (24-26, 25-15, 25-22, 25-18)
Friday, July 29
Silver: vs. USA BSA1 Red (SBR), 9:45 am
AZHP Girls Select (5-1)
Thursday, July 28
over OVR Girls Sel (OVG) 3-1 (25-18, 25-14, 24-26, 25-14)
over Sun Country Reg (SUS) 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-16)
Friday, July 29
Gold: vs. IOWA GSEL NAVY (IGS), 4 pm
A2 Youth Girls National White (3-3)
Thursday, July 28
USA GYNT (GYT) 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-20)
USA WJA2 (CJR) 3-1 (25-20, 25-20, 19-25, 25-7)
Friday, July 29
Silver: winner match 1, Noon
NOTE: 98 select teams are competing at the Tucson Convention Center this week at the USA Volleyball High Performance Championships.
Teams from around the globe including Chile, the Dominican Republic, New Zealand, Peru and two teams from both China and Mexico are also taking part.
