Thomas,
Hochevar make national team
By Toby Lewis
On-line Forty-Niner
 Two
Long Beach State women’s volleyball players,
Brittany
Hochevar and Elisha Thomas, were recently
selected to train with the United States
Women’s Volleyball team.
“[Hochevar and Thomas] were invited to be
part of the training team,” said Paul Soriano,
manager of media relations for USA Volleyball.
A total of six collegiate All-Americans
as well as seven other players from colleges
around the nation were chosen to compete
for the team, which started training Jan.
30.
“This is basically an opportunity for the
girls to train with the U.S. National Team
Head Coach Toshi Yoshida and get more experience
with international play,” Soriano said.
The 13 girls will be members of the USA
National Women’s Volleyball Training team
and will have the opportunity to compete
in international and national tournaments
which will be held later this year, Soriano
said.
“This is an opportunity for [national team]
coaches to keep the pipeline stocked with
players who have experience internationally,”
Soriano said.
Soriano explained that some of these girls
will get cut, but some will continue on
to have a shot at making the 2004 Olympic
team.
More than likely the girls that are training
now will have a shot at the 2008 Olympic
team or the 2005 National team, Soriano
said. “This is the next step in volleyball
for them,” Soriano added.
Currently there are two other Cal State
Long Beach Alumnae who are training with
the National team.
“[Head Coach] Brian Gimm-illaro has a great
program. He always gets great athletes in
his program,” Soriano said.
The team will compete at the Pan American
Cup, the Pan American Games and the Norceca
Continental Championships later this year.
The Norceca championship is the qualifier
for the World Cup, which will be held in
Japan in November.
The World Cup is the first Olympic qualifier
with the top three teams earning a trip
to the Olympics, which will be held in Athens,
Greece in 2004.
Hochevar is considered one of the top all-around
players in the country, the Long Beach State
women’s volleyball web site reports. In
her three-year career at Cal State Long
Beach, she has 1423 assists, averaging 1.99
kills per game hitting .269 with 5.58 hits
and 2.60 digs per game.
Hochevar is a two-time starter, starting
at both setter and outside hitter in her
career. In 2001, she was first-team All-Big
West and this past season she earned second-team
All-American honors as a setter.
Elisha Thomas, a 6’3" middle blocker, recorded
a total 168 blocks last season for the Beach.
She was named AVCA third-team All-American
and All-Big West Conference first-team selection.
During her three-year career at Long Beach
State, she averaged 2.56 kills and 1.17
blocks per game.
She also hit .355 during her career, which
is fifth-best all-time for Long Beach State.
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