Fuentez to Compete Overseas With Development Team
5/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Bridget Fuentez, a senior outside hitter on the Crimson Tide volleyball team, has been selected to compete internationally for the USA/BIP Development Team this summer. The team will be managed and organized by Bring It Productions, an organization devoted to taking American volleyball players abroad to compete against international teams.
Fuentez was selected as a part of the USA/BIP team that consists of outstanding players from the USA Tryouts who are not on the USA Training or Junior National teams. The Tomball, Texas, native is just one of three players on the 14-member squad who does not compete for a West coast school.
"I am really excited to be invited," Fuentez said. "It's another great opportunity for me, to be able to play with new people and players I don't even know. There aren't any other players from the SEC on the team, so everyone will be new to me and I am looking forward to meeting new people and playing with girls from so many different schools. I've heard the crowds are loud and crazy down there, so I think this is just going to be a great experience that will give me an edge when I come back in the fall."
Fuentez becomes the second Tide player to earn a spot on a national select team, following teammate Crystal Hudson's selection to the A2 National team earlier this spring.
The USA/BIP team is slated to travel to Argentina this summer, where it faces Argentina's National team prior to its summer competition schedule. Fuentez and her teammates will play at Villa Carlos Paz, Cordoba, Provincia de Cordoba, San Francisco, Morteros and Noetinger. Competition runs from June 4-8.
Fuentez has been one of the most consistent performers in the SEC the past two seasons. She earned second team All-SEC honors in 2005 and 2006 while helping lead the Tide to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in each of those seasons. After leading the team in kills in 2005, she was second to Hudson last season.
Her select team will be coached by Charlie Wade, the head coach at Pacific University. Wade is assisted by Oscar Crespo, who is the head women's volleyball coach at San Jose State.
Results from the tour, along with video highlights, photos and statistics, can be found on the Bring It Production web site: www.bringitusa.com/events/argentina_2007
