Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0
Russ Rose Comments on Penn State’s Olympic Team Selections
On July 3rd, U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon named former Penn State All-Americans Christa Harmotto (Hopewell Township, Pa.) and Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) to the 12-player 2012 U.S. Women’s Volleyball Olympic Team. Two other former Penn State All-Americans — Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) and Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Ohio) — were among the eight players named as alternates.
Penn State Head Coach Russ Rose was kind enough to share his thoughts with us on the accomplishments of these players.
DigNittanyVolleyball: What was your first reaction on hearing that Christa Harmotto and Megan Hodge had been named to the 12-person roster for the 2012 U.S. Women’s Olympic Volleyball team?
Russ Rose: I thought it was a dream come true for all 12 of the players selected and a great deal of heartache for the girls who didn’t make the selection. Christa has really come on strong as of late and Megan was recognized as the MVP and top scorer at the final round of the Grand Prix. We have had a number of players in the mix over the years, and Christa and Megan are our first two players selected.
DigNittanyVolleyball: Both Christa and Megan obviously have alot of ability. What are some of the intangibles that help make them successful?
Russ Rose: I think both players are very physical and Christa, as I indicated, has really come on strong after playing in China and Italy over the past 2 professional seasons. Megan has always received well-deserved recognition and has also made great progress in Italy and Poland. The players that are fortunate to play professionally and compete on the National Teams are always in volleyball mode and I think when young can really maximize their talents.
DigNittanyVolleyball: Nicole Fawcett and Alisha Glass were named as two of the eight alternates on the team. Your thoughts on what they have achieved.
Russ Rose: I can’t speak on how they are feeling, as they have both spent the last 2-3 years training full time with the National Team and playing overseas, but I am proud of their efforts and commitment to the National team and hope that they elect to stay with the program and shoot for Rio. Nicole and Alisha came from small towns and even smaller high schools and club programs, and have worked their way up through USA volleyball and have great resumes for their collegiate and professional careers.
DigNittanyVolleyball: Thanks for your time, Coach.
International Experience – Team Resume
Speaking of resumes, below are the resumes for each of the 12 players on the 2012 team:
- Danielle Scott-Arruda (Five-time Olympian — 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012). Recent International Competition: 2012 – FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold). 2011 – FIVB World Cup (Silver). 2009 – Pan American Cup (Fourth)…FIVB World Championship Qualification Tournament – NORCECA Pool G (Gold)…NORCECA Continental Championship (Fourth). 2008 – U.S. Olympic Team Exhibition for Volleyball versus Brazil…FIVB World Grand Prix (Fourth Place)…Olympic Games (Silver Medal).
- Tayyiba Haneef-Park (Three-time Olympian – 2004, 2008, 2012). Recent International Competition: 2012 – FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold). 2011 – Montreux Volley Masters (Fourth Place)…FIVB World Cup (Silver). 2009 – Pan American Cup (Fourth); FIVB World Championship Qualification Tournament – NORCECA Pool G (Gold). 2008 – FIVB World Grand Prix (Fourth Place)…Olympic Games (Silver Medal).
- Lindsey Berg (Three-time Olympian – 2004, 2008, 2012). Recent International Competition: 2012 – FIVB World Grand Prix Preliminary Rounds. 2011 – FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold)…NORCECA Championship (Gold)…FIVB World Cup (Silver). 2010 – FIVB World Championship (Fourth). 2009 – Final Four Intercontinental Cup (Silver)…NORCECA Continental Championship (Fourth) 2008 – U.S. Olympic Team Exhibition for Volleyball versus Brazil…FIVB World Grand Prix (Fourth Place)…Olympic Games (Silver Medal).
- Tamari Miyashiro (Olympic Debut). Recent International Competition: 2012 – FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold). 2011 – Montreux Volley Masters (Fourth Place)…FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold)…Pan American Games (Bronze)…FIVB World Cup (Silver). 2010 – Tour of China…Montreux Volley Masters (Silver)…Pan American Cup (Bronze).
- Nicole Davis (Two-time Olympian – 2008 and 2012). Recent International Competition: 2012 – FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold). 2011 – Montreux Volley Masters (Fourth)…Pan American Cup (Bronze)…FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold)…NORCECA Championship Gold…FIVB World Cup (Silver). 2010 – Montreux Volley Masters (Silver Medal)…FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold Medal)…FIVB World Championship (Fourth). 2009 – Tour of Egypt…Pan American Cup (Fourth)…FIVB World Grand Prix (Ninth)…Final Four Intercontinental Cup (Silver)…NORCECA Continental Championship (Fourth). 2008 – Tour of China…U.S. Olympic Team Exhibition for Volleyball versus Brazil…FIVB World Grand Prix (Fourth Place)…Olympic Games (Silver Medal).
- Jordan Larson (Olympic Debut). Recent International Competition: 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix Preliminary Round. 2011 – Montreux Volley Masters (Fourth)…Pan American Cup (Bronze)…FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold)…NORCECA Championship (Gold)…FIVB World Cup (Silver). 2010 – Pan American Cup (Bronze)…FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold)…Tour of Brazil…FIVB World Championship (Fourth). 2009 – Pan American Cup (Fourth)…FIVB World Grand Prix (Ninth)…NORCECA Continental Championship (Fourth).
- Megan Hodge (Olympic Debut). Recent International Competition: 2012 – FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold). 2011 – Pan American Cup (Bronze)…FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold)…NORCECA Championship (Gold)…FIVB World Cup (Silver). 2010 – China Tour…Montreux Volley Masters (Silver)…Pan American Cup (Bronze)…FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold)…Tour of Brazil…FIVB World Championship (Fourth).
- Christa Harmotto (Olympic Debut). Recent International Competition: 2012 – FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold). 2011 – Montreux Volley Masters (Fourth)…Pan American Cup (Bronze)…FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold). 2010 – Montreux Volley Masters (Silver)…Pan American Cup (Bronze). 2009 – Tour of Egypt…Pan American Cup (Fourth); FIVB World Championship Qualification Tournament – NORCECA Pool G (Gold)…FIVB World Grand Prix (Ninth)…Final Four Intercontinental Cup (Silver)…NORCECA Continental Championship (Fourth).
- Logan Tom (Four-time Olympian – 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012). Recent International Competition: 2012 – FIVB World Grand Prix Preliminary Round. 2011 – FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold)…NORCECA Continental Championship (Gold)…FIVB World Cup (Silver). 2010 – FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold)…FIVB World Championship (Fourth). 2008 – U.S. Olympic Team Exhibition for Volleyball versus Brazil…FIVB World Grand Prix (Fourth Place)…Olympic Games (Silver Medal).
- Foluke Akinradewo (Olympic Debut). Recent International Competition: 2012 – FIVB World Grand Prix Preliminary Round. 2011 – Montreux Volley Masters (Fourth)…Pan American Cup (Bronze)…FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold)…NORCECA Championship (Gold)…FIVB World Cup (Silver). 2010 – Pan American Cup (Bronze)…FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold)…Tour of Brazil…FIVB World Championship (Fourth). 2009 – FIVB World Grand Prix (9th). 2008 – USA Tour of China…U.S. Olympic Team Exhibition for Volleyball versus Brazil…FIVB World Grand Prix (Fourth Place).
- Courtney Thompson (Olympic Debut). Recent International Competition: 2012 – FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold). 2011 – Pan American Games (Bronze). 2010 – Montreux Volley Masters (Silver)…Pan American Cup (Bronze). 2009 – Pan American Cup (Fourth); FIVB World Championship Qualification Tournament – NORCECA Pool G (Gold)…FIVB World Grand Prix (Ninth)…NORCECA Continental Championship (Fourth).
- Destinee Hooker (Olympic Debut). Recent International Competition: 2012 – FIVB World Grand Prix Preliminary Round. 2011 – FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold)…NORCECA Championship (Gold)…FIVB World Cup (Silver). 2010 – FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold)…Tour of Brazil…FIVB World Championship (Fourth).
2012 U.S. Women's Olympic Volleyball Team
| # | Name | Position | Height | Hometown | State | Birth Year | College | Conf. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Scott-Arruda, Danielle | MB | 6-2 | Baton Rouge | LA | 1972 | LBSU | Big West |
| 3 | Haneef-Park, Tayyiba | Opp | 6-7 | Laguna Hills | CA | 1979 | LBSU | Big West |
| 4 | Berg, Lindsey | S | 5-8 | Honolulu | HI | 1980 | Minnesota | B1G |
| 5 | Miyashiro, Tamari | L | 5-7 | Kaneohe | HI | 1987 | Washington | Pac 12 |
| 6 | Davis, Nicole | L | 5-4 | Stockton | CA | 1982 | USC | Pac 12 |
| 10 | Larson, Jordan | OH | 6-2 | Hooper | NE | 1986 | Nebraska | B1G |
| 11 | Hodge, Megan | OH | 6-3 | Durham | NC | 1988 | Penn State | B1G |
| 13 | Harmotto, Christa | MB | 6-2 | Hopewell | PA | 1986 | Penn State | B1G |
| 15 | Tom, Logan | OH | 6-1 | Salt Lake City | UT | 1981 | Stanford | Pac 12 |
| 16 | Akinradewo, Foluke | MB | 6-3 | Plantation | FL | 1987 | Stanford | Pac 12 |
| 17 | Thompson, Courtney | S | 5-8 | Kent | WA | 1984 | Washington | Pac 12 |
| 19 | Hooker, Destinee | Opp | 6-4 | San Antonio | TX | 1987 | Texas | Big 12 |
Alternates - 2012 U.S. Women's Olympic Volleyball Team
| # | Name | Position | Height | Hometown | State | Birth Year | College | Conf. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glass, Alisha | S | 6-0 | Leland | MI | 1988 | Penn State | B1G |
| 7 | Bown, Heather | MB | 6-3 | Yorba Linda | CA | 1978 | Hawai'i | Big West |
| 8 | Barboza, Cynthia | OH | 6-0 | Long Beach | CA | 1987 | Stanford | Pac 12 |
| 9 | Tamas, Jennifer | MB | 6-4 | Milpitas | CA | 1982 | Pacific | Big West |
| 12 | Metcalf, Nancy | Opp | 6-1 | Hull | IA | 1978 | Nebraska | B1G |
| 14 | Fawcett, Nicole | OH | 6-4 | Zanesfield | OH | 1986 | Penn State | B1G |
| 18 | Lloyd, Carli | S | 5-11 | Bonsall | CA | 1989 | California | Pac 12 |
| 20 | Richards, Kristin | OH | 6-1 | Orem | UT | 1985 | Stanford | Pac 12 |
2012 Olympic Games — U.S. Women’s Volleyball Schedule
NBC will provide live coverage of all 302 medal events, with streaming video to authenticated cable, satellite and telco customers. To check if your provider qualifies, Click Here.
Pool A (World Ranking): Japan (3), Italy (4), Russia (7), Dominican Republic (9), Algeria (16), Great Britain (69)
Pool B (World Ranking): USA (1), Brazil (2), China (5), Serbia (6), Turkey (11), Korea (15)
July 28: USA vs. Korea, 8 p.m. (noon PT)
July 30: USA vs. Brazil, 4:45 p.m. (8:45 a.m. PT)
Aug. 1: USA vs. China, 8 p.m. (noon PT)
Aug. 3: USA vs. Serbia, 8 p.m. (noon PT)
Aug. 5: USA vs. Turkey, 8 p.m. (noon PT)
Aug. 7: Quarterfinal Matches at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m.
Aug. 9: Semifinal Matches at 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 11: Women’s Bronze Medal Match, 11:30 a.m.
Aug. 11: Women’s Gold Medal Match, 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 11: Women’s Gold Medal Ceremony, 8:20 p.m.