Indiana University Athletics
Short Trip to the USA National Team Tryout
1/30/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Jan. 30, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Freshman outside hitter Erica Short had an opportunity no other freshman under head coach Katie Weismiller's tenure has had when she attended the USA Volleyball National team tryout on Jan. 13-15 in Colorado Springs, Colo. at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
The U.S. National Team asked for the top student-athletes in the country for this open tryout, and Weismiller felt that Short fit that description well for Indiana University volleyball. This opportunity for Short was beneficial, not only does Weismiller feel it was a great experience, it also made Short a better volleyball player.
"When you are able to play with the best players in the country, first it gives you a measuring stick to see where you are, and second, it shows you what you can do and what you can accomplish as a player," Weismiller said. "Being a freshman, she has three more years, and we know she's going to be very good, and hopefully one of these days she will be a part of a National Team. Since she has come back, she has been a lot more motivated, because she now knows what it takes to be the best."
In her first year at Indiana, Short set the freshman record for most kills in a season with 398. That mark also made Short the leader in kills for the team as a whole.
Looking ahead, after a season of having nine freshmen, including Short, on the roster, Weismiller feels that the future is bright for Indiana volleyball.
"With our spring practices we are having now, we are already a whole lot better," Weismiller said. "In their freshman season, we asked a lot of these girls to step up and play at the Big Ten level. Now they know what it takes, and you are going to start to see the maturity from now through next season. You will see a completely different player with these freshmen."
