Volleyball Exhibition Helps Ex-Lc, Gu Star

Don’t be disappointed that seven of the best American women volleyball players won’t be at Veterans Memorial Arena tonight.

When you see the talented U.S. team against Canada, you’ll be left to wonder how good it really is.

Well, the answer is, great.

The U.S. national team won the World Grand Prix in Shanghai, China, last month, defeating defending champion Brazil in the finals to earn the title of best team in the world.

That’s why seven players, including all the starters except Bev Oden, are taking a break after an intense five-week stretch led to the gold medal, America’s first in a major Federation Internationale de Volleyball tournament.

The current 12-player team, according to coach Terry Liskevych, will finish this short four-city tour and play in the North Central Caribbean Zone tournament in the Dominican Republic next week.

“This gives us a chance to play the young kids,” Liskevych said. “That’s what this is all about.”

The women take on Canada after the U.S. men’s team plays Japan at 6 p.m.

Among the three players added to the U.S. women’s roster is Kelly Cunningham, who graduated from Lewis and Clark in 1989 and Gonzaga University in 1993.

“This is a great opportunity for me as far as experience, playing at the highest level of volleyball,” Cunningham said. “These players are awesome. For me, it’s a chance of a lifetime.”

After a stellar college career, Cunningham tried out for the national team.

She made enough of an impression to get invited for this tour.

“Kelly is a good, well-rounded player. She needs to get stronger, hit the ball harder,” Liskevych said. “She was a good college player and is a good pro player. It’s tough to take that next step.

“In San Diego, we have a year-round training squad of 16. Seven are gone, nine are here and we added three others. They played with other teams before and we wanted to look at them a little more.”“We know you can’t teach experience,” he said. “We’re asking our athletes to stay with us as long as possible.”

Liskevych, who has coached the national team for 13 years, pointed out there are 12,000 varsity volleyball players in college and just 16 on the national team.

“It’s easier to be a neurosurgeon,” he said. “I’ve had every Division I player of the year since 1983. I don’t know how many national champions.”

Though Cunningham hasn’t quite reached that level, she’s close.

After coaching at GU for a year after graduation, she moved to San Diego.

“I really enjoyed coaching. I hope to get back in it,” she said. “But that’s when I decided to get back in. I missed playing.”

Last year, Cunningham played in the National Volleyball Association pro league and this past summer was on the four-man beach volleyball tour.

“I don’t know if I have a goal,” she said. “I’m trying to get as many options as possible.”

, DataTimes