Wingate's Collier Named USA Youth National Volleyball Team Coach
May 31, 2006

Courtesy Wingate University Sports Information Office

Colorado Springs, Colo.----The USA Volleyball High Performance Program has announced that Wingate University head volleyball coach Shelton Collier has been named as the head coach for the 2006 USA Women’s Youth National team. In addition, USA volleyball has finalized the player roster for the 2006 Youth National Team that will train and compete this summer in Gainesville, Florida.

“It is a tremendous responsibility,” Collier said. “These players are the top fifteen- year-old players in the country. Without a doubt, some have the potential to be future Olympians. This will be their first (summer of) international competition, so it is an exciting challenge for all of us.”

An 18-player training team will train on the campus of the University of Florida beginning July 9. Collier will trim the squad to twelve. Afterwards, the team will compete in the NORCECA Youth Championships, also to be held at the University of Florida.

“This is a very important event for USA Volleyball and for these players,” Collier said. “Our goal is to win the gold medal and qualify this group for the 2007 Youth World Championships.”

In 2003, Collier coached the USA Youth National Team to an impressive fourth-place showing at the FIVB Girls Youth World Championships in Poland. The fourth-place finish represented the best finish-ever for a USA Youth Team.

During the summer of 2004, Collier directed a gold medal finish for the USA in the 2004 Junior NORCECA Championships. In the summer of 2005, Collier was the head coach for the USA Junior National Team in Turkey.

“I have really enjoyed coaching these elite USA teams over the years,” Collier said. “Each team presents new and unique challenges. We will have a very short training period, so we will need to make much progress very quickly in order to have success in the (NORCECA) tournament.”

Collier will be assisted by Sue Woodstra, former captain of the silver medal USA Olympic Team and Frank Lavrisha, the veteran head coach at Regis (Colo.) University. Woodstra is also an NCAA head coach, as she mentors the volleyball team at Humboldt State (Calif.) University.

The 18-player USA Youth National Training team will consist of the following players:
Rachael Adams, Cincinnati, Ohio
Michelle Bartsch, Collinsville, Ill.
Kendall Bateman, Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Kelsey Brandi, Lakeville, Minn.
Katherine Douglas (Woodside, CA),
Natalie Emro, Munster, Ind.
Falyn Fonoimoar, Hermosa Beach, Calif.
Kanani Herring, Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Alex Hunt, Granger, Ind.
Kathryn Kabbes, Cary, N.C.
Kelsey Mahoney, Fort Worth, Texas
Allison McNeal, Schulenburg, Texas
Jordan Meredith, Honolulu, Hawaii
Tarah Murrey, El Cerrito, Calif.
Kelly Pang, Honolulu, Hawaii
Chelsea Ringel, Arlington, Texas
Amy Webster, San Diego, Calif.
Sydney Yogi, Honolulu, Hawaii

Collier has had extensive experience with the USA Volleyball Program. He has served as an assistant coach to the USA Women’s National Team. In addition, he has been a Head Coach at various levels within the High Performance program.

This fall, Collier will begin his fifth season at the helm of the Wingate University volleyball program. In 2005, Wingate (25-6 overall) earned an invitation to the NCAA Division II tournament for the second time in three years. Collier guided the Wingate program to the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament championship and an NCAA play-off berth in 2003.

Prior to accepting the position at Wingate, Collier was the head coach at Georgia Tech for 11 seasons, developing a nationally-prominent program in Atlanta. He also spent nine seasons at the University of Pittsburgh. In 24 seasons as an NCAA head volleyball coach, Collier has compiled an overall record of 650-245.

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private four-year institution offering students active learning opportunities through personalized instruction, world travel, faith development and community service.

Wingate offers more that 37 undergraduate majors in arts, music and sciences. It also offers pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business and education and a doctor of pharmacy degree. Wingate student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division II sports.