Feb. 20, 2004
The Georgia Tech volleyball team has been invited to the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) Women’s Volleyball Classic in Fort Collins, Colo. on Aug. 27 and 28 at Colorado State to open the 2004 women’s volleyball season. Colorado State will play host to a field that includes Georgia Tech, defending national champion USC, and 2003 Final Four participant Minnesota in the 10th Annual Women’s Volleyball Classic.
Georgia Tech will be making their first appearance in the tournament and this will mark the first time that a school from the Atlantic Coast Conference has been invited.
“This is an exciting opportunity for our program and we are very proud to represent not only Georgia Tech, but also the ACC,” said head coach Bond Shymansky who has compiled a 67-10 record in two seasons at Tech. “This will give our team a chance to compete at the highest level possible and it’s a great opportunity for our team to continue to be seen as one of the rising programs in the country.”
The Yellow Jackets finished the 2003 season with a school-best 34-4 record and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. In the final AVCA/USA Today Coaches poll, the Jackets were ranked No. 8, representing the best ranking at the end of a season. Eleven total letterwinners, including six of seven starters, return for the Yellow Jackets in 2004 including AVCA All-Americans Lauren Sauer and Lynnette Moster.
USC notched its second-consecutive and sixth national championship overall in 2003, capturing the title with a perfect 35-0 record and establishing a 47-match win streak. The Women of Troy head into the 2004 season attempting to become the first-ever women’s volleyball team to win three consecutive titles. The Trojans lose five players from the title squad, but returns nine letterwinners including All-American middle blockers Emily Adams and Bibiana Candelas, as well as two-time NCAA Championship MVP outside hitter Keao Burdine.
Colorado State advanced to the NCAA Regional Semifinals for the fourth time in five seasons in 2003 after winning the Mountain West Conference Tournament and posting a perfect 14-0 record in regular season conference play. The Rams return six starters from last year’s squad, including All-American honorable mention selections Katie Jo Shirley and Melissa Courtney. Minnesota made the program’s first-ever NCAA Final Four appearance in 2003, falling to the eventual-champion Trojans 3-0 in the semifinals. The Golden Gophers finished tied for second in the Big Ten with a 15-5 conference record and finished the season with the highest national ranking in school history at No. 4. Minnesota returns 11 letterwinners, including AVCA All-America second team pick Paul Gentil.
“The field for the 2004 NACWAA Volleyball Classic is outstanding and will provide excellent competition to begin the collegiate season,” said NACWAA Executive Director, Jennifer Alley. “This will be the 10th offering of this prestigious tournament and NACWAA is proud to celebrate this event with these talented teams. Colorado State has an experienced tournament staff and a great fan base which will provide an excellent environment to kick off the collegiate volleyball season.”
