Roth Travels to Croatia for 2008 Global Challenge
July 15, 2008
ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis setter Whitney Roth (Louisville, Ky. / Assumption) was recently chosen to play on the Bring It Promotions/USA Development Team that will travel to Croatia this month to compete in the 2008 Global Challenge, a "USA Volleyball (USAV) Umbrella Event." The rising junior is among 11 NCAA student-athletes hand-picked by BIP president Tim Kelly to participate on the prestigious tour. "I am honored to be chosen to play on this team," Roth said. "When this opportunity came about, I jumped on it because it truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'm looking forward to learning from all of my teammates and coaches who are coming from different programs around the U.S." The team will depart for Zagreb, Croatia, on July 16. Upon its arrival, the squad will do some sightseeing before traveling to Maribor, Slovenia, for two days of training. On the evening of July 19, the team will head to Pula, Croatia, for the four-day tournament. Following the tournament, the team will enjoy a day of sightseeing in Venice, Italy, before departing for the United States on July 26. This is the second straight year the BIP has put together a team for the event. Roth is one of only two setters on the 13-member squad. The team is coached by Tennessee's Rob Patrick, Northern Illinois' Ray Gooden, Western Carolina's Stephanie Dragan and New Orleans' Jozsef Forman. This year's Global Challenge features 16 teams, six of which are from the U.S. However, the BIP/USA squad is the only one comprised almost entirely of Division I college players. The remaining five U.S. teams are made up of mostly club players with little collegiate experience. "I am extremely proud of Whitney and excited that she's been given this opportunity," SLU head coach Anne Kordes said. "She is going to play with, and against, some of the best players in the world in her age group. In terms of our program, this will only help that our starting setter, and leader, will be playing high-level international competition this summer. Whitney will bring back more experience that will help when we begin the 2008 season with such a competitive schedule."
Roth is one of five starters who will return to the Billiken volleyball team in 2008. Last season, Saint Louis finished 23-7 overall, 10-3 in the Atlantic 10 Conference. On Friday, Aug. 29, SLU travels to Oxford, Ohio, to face host Miami (Ohio) in its season opener at the Best Western/Sycamore Inn Classic. |
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