Erin Byrd, who recently completed her senior season with the UW volleyball team, has been invited to be a member of the 2003 USA Women's Volleyball Training Team roster selected by Head Coach Toshi Yoshida.
The team begins training today in Colorado Springs, Colo. Thirteen players will be vying for roster positions on the U.S. Women's National Team that will be competing at the Montreux Volley Masters, the Pan American Cup, the World Grand Prix, the Pan American Games and the NORCECA Continental Championships later in the year. The NORCECA championship serves as a qualifier for the World Cup in Japan this November. The World Cup is the first Olympic qualifier, with the top three teams earning a trip to Athens, Greece, in 2004.
Byrd, a 6'0' outside hitter, was a unanimous All-Big Ten selection this past season. She garnered second-team All-American honors after leading Wisconsin in kills per game (4.34) and digs (353). She was a member of the USA Volleyball A2 team last summer.
The Glen Ellyn, Ill., native was a four-year starter for the Badgers and ranks among the UW's best all-around players. She ranks among the top players in career kills (sixth with 1,270), attack attempts (sixth with 3,527), service aces (eighth with 120) and digs (second with 1397). Byrd became only the fourth player in UW history to record over 1,000 kills and 1,200 digs in a career.
