Freshman Christa Harmotto is one of 12 players selected to the U.S. Junior National Team to play in Ankara, Turkey, beginning on Saturday, July 23.

University Park, Pa., July 20, 2005 ¨C Incoming Penn State women¡¯s volleyball freshman Christa Harmotto (Aliquippa, Pa.) has been selected as one of 12 players to represent the United States on the Junior National Team set to compete in the FIVB Junior Women¡¯s U-20 Volleyball World Championships beginning Saturday, July 23 in Ankara, Turkey. Head coach Shelton Collier made the announcement on July 18 at the United States Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, N.Y., where a group of 18 athletes has been practicing since July 8.

The 6-4 Harmotto was also a member of the USA squad that qualified for the World Championships by going undefeated (4-0) and winning the gold at the 2004 NORCECA Zone Championships last August in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Named the Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year in 2005, Harmotto is a two-time Prep Volleyball High School All-American, a Volleyball Magazine ¡°Fab 50¡± selection and was tabbed a Mizuno First Team All-American following her senior season. She was named the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Beaver County Times Female Athlete of the Year and earned first team all-state, all-WPIAL and all-section accolades twice. Her Hopewell High School team posted a three-year record of 75-4 and was ranked No. 1 in the state of Pennsylvania, winning the 2004 section, WPIAL and state championships. Harmotto recorded a school-record 186 total blocks during her junior season in 2003 and posted a school-record .595 hitting percentage in her senior year to go along with 448 kills, 376 digs and 172 blocks. She helped Hopewell to a 59-0 record against WPIAL opponents from 2001 to present and a 103-match winning streak against section opponents.

Harmotto joins six collegiate players, four soon-to-be collegiate players and one high school senior on the U.S. Junior National Team roster. The squad opens play on July 23 versus Serbia and Montenegro and then will face Brazil (July 24), Japan (July 25), Croatia (July 27) and Turkey (July 28) in pool play in Ankara, Turkey. The second pool consists of China, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Italy, Puerto Rico and Russia and those matches will be played in Istanbul, Turkey.

Penn State opens up the 2005 slate versus defending national champion Stanford at the AVCA/NACWAA College Volleyball Showcase on Aug. 26 at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb. The Nittany Lions will then face either Hawaii or Nebraska on Aug. 27. Penn State¡¯s first home match is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 16 versus Seton Hall at 7:30 p.m. at Rec Hall.

For more information on the Penn State women¡¯s volleyball team, please visit www.GoPSUsports.com.

2005 USA Women¡¯s Junior National Team Roster
Name, Pos., Ht., Hometown (College)
Foluke Akinradewo, MB, 6-3, Plantation, Fla. (Stanford)
Morgan Beck, OH, 6-3, Coto De Caza, Calif. (California)
Diane Copenhagen, OPP, 6-3, Mountain View, Calif. (USC)
Alexis Crimes, MB, 6-3, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Long Beach State)
Christa Harmotto, MB, 6-4, Aliquippa, Pa. (Penn State)
Marcie Hampton, OH, 6-2, Gainesville, Fla. (Florida)
Bryn Kehoe, S, 5-11, North Bend, Ohio (Stanford)
Janet Okogbaa, MB, 6-3, Tampa, Fla. (HS senior)
Airial Salvo, OH, 6-0, Farmington, Utah (Utah)
Nellie Spicer, S, 5-10, Barrington, Ill. (UCLA)
Ami Stevens, OH, 6-1, Centerburg, Ohio (Ohio State)
Summer Weissing, L, 5-9, Boca Raton, Fla. (Florida State)