Ashley Nu'u Picked to Join the US Women's National Team

Ashley Nu'u

Below is an excerpt from a recent USAV article about the US Womens National Team.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 10, 2007) – U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team Head Coach “Jenny” Lang Ping has added six players to the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Training Team that will start workouts on Jan. 16, 2007, at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Setters Courtney Thompson (Kent, Wash.) and Ashley Nu’u (Aurora, Colo.), liberos Jillian Davis (La Canada, Calif.) and Allison Anderson (Moraga, Calif.), and outside hitters Kelly Bowman (Maple Grove, Minn.) and Kristen Fenton (Marysville, Mich.) have been invited to train with the national team. Bowman will also cross-train as a setter and libero.

The newcomers will join a select group of returnees with national team experience including setter Lindsey Hunter (Papillion, Neb.) and liberos Candace Lee (Eugene, Ore.) and Sarah Drury (Louisville, Ky.). Both Hunter and Drury were on the 12-player roster that competed at the 2006 FIVB World Championships, while Lee competed for the U.S. during the Pan America Cup and FIVB World Grand Prix tournaments in 2006.

Additional players may be added to the national training team at a later date. In addition, USA Volleyball will conduct a second open tryout Feb. 23-25 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Limited space is still available on a first-come, first-serve basis, but the tryout session is expected to be filled to capacity. For more information, click here.

The majority of the veteran Team USA players are currently playing professional indoor volleyball in Europe, Asia and Brazil. The complete team will return to Colorado Springs in late April or early May to prepare for the Pan American Cup held June 15-24.

Ashley Nu’u (Setter, 5-10, Aurora, Colo.)
Nu’u, a 2006 AVCA All-America Third-Team selection playing for the University of Colorado, finished her career at the University of Colorado with a 4,315 assists, third most in school history. As a senior she tallied 1,352 assists for 12.52 per game, 120 kills, 14 aces, 179 digs and 64 blocks while hitting .348 in 108 games. Nu’u earned All-Big 12 First-Team in 2006 and helped the Buffs to an upset of top-ranked and eventual national champion University of Nebraska on Nov. 11, the only loss for the Huskers last season. She completed her CU career ranked 14th in career blocks (243), 30th in career kills (541) and 35th in career digs (573).

Congratulations Ashley!

What We Can Learn from Tracy

Have you taken the time to read Tracy Stalls’ article in the December 3, 2006 FRVBC Newsletter?  It’s a terrific article in which Tracy talks about some of the most important elements of sports psychology that are an integral part of FRVBC’s program.

As a Front Range player, you’re participating in one of the most innovative volleyball programs in the country.  You’re involved in a program that has integrated the best fitness and conditioning, skill and tactics, and sports psychology into a seamless program.

HI!  I’m Tim Engels, Front Range’s sports psychology consultant.  During the upcoming season, I’ll be writing a series of articles in the FRVBC newsletter talking about many of the significant sports psychology elements of the program and how they’re helping you to become the best volleyball player you can be and the best person you can be.

Let’s take a closer look at the maturity and wisdom Tracy brings to Nebraska volleyball and how you can do the same.  Read her article again while keeping the following things in mind.

Tracy talks about the difference between achievement goals and development goals.  Her achievement goals include winning a national championship, and being voted to the Academic All-American team and first team All-American.  Then she notes wisely that these goals are out of her direct control and so they’re not her main goals.

Her primary goals are to work her butt off, love her teammates and trust and learn from her coaches.  These are development goals and well within her control.  AND the better she is at achieving these goals, the more likely she is to achieve her achievement goals.  It’s the development goals that she’s focusing on.  Tracy has learned to have the patience to accept what she can’t control and the courage to fully commit to what she does control.

Tracy talks about challenging herself to max out her God given talent.  She’s setting development goals based on an honest assessment of her talent, then honestly assessing where she is and the effort she’s making.  Notice her assessment of the level of effort her team made last season and this season.  This honest comparison of where you are in relation to the goals you’ve set automatically creates motivation toward achieving your goals – especially when your goals are SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Rewarding and Timely.

Finally, Tracy talks about how she embraces competition.  Competition is a gift that drives us to become the best we can be.  When viewed this way, it’s not scary because the only way you can lose is by not giving your best effort and not pushing to find out how good you can be.

So, be a sponge and learn from Tracy.  Set challenging, yet achievable development goals for yourself; commit to working your butt off to achieve them; and embrace the competitive environment at Front Range that’s helping to drive you to achieve more than you dreamed possible.

Pictures from the Christmas Party

The 1st place winners were Team Jolene with Brandon, Silver, Cardinal, and 14 Mountain. (photo courtesy of Jim Burling)

The 2nd Place winners were Team Dave with the Parents and Siblings of Red, Royal and Pink. (photo courtesy of Jim Burling)

Thank you to Jen Pokraka (left), coach of Pink, and Michelle Hoffner, coach of White, for all of the work they did planning for this years Christmas Party. (photo courtesy of Jim Burling)