Former University of Arizona outside hitter Kim Glass has been named to the U.S Olympic Volleyball Team, USA Volleyball announced last week. Glass will be one of 12 players to represent the United States at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
A native of Los Angeles, Calif., Glass makes her first appearance with the U.S. National Team. Glass is no stranger to international competition as she was a member of the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team that competed in the 2001 FIVB World Junior Championships. She also participated on the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team at the 2002 NORCECA Continental Women’s Junior Championships. Glass played four seasons for the Wildcats from 2002-2005, where she was a three-time American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American and a four-time All-Pac-10 pick.
As a freshman, Glass was named AVCA National Freshman of the Year in 2002. She finished her career ranked in the Top 10 in 19 statistical categories and sits atop Arizona’s leaders in 12 categories. She finished her career with a school record 2,151 kills and 162 aces. Glass becomes the first Arizona volleyball player to join an Olympic team roster. She is also the youngest member on the current roster.
The 2008 U.S. Olympic Volleyball Team will be led by Head Coach “Jenny” Lang Ping, who begins her fourth year leading the U.S Women’s National Team. Lang Ping guided the Americans to a 26-11 record in 2007 with three medal stands in five tournaments.
The U.S. last competed in the volleyball competition in the Olympic Games in 2004. Lang Ping coached the team in Athens and guided her squad featuring Danielle Scott-Arruda and Robyn Ah Mow-Santos to a fifth place finish. Since volleyball was recognized as an official medal sport in the Olympics, the U.S. has won medals on two occasions: finishing second (silver, Los Angeles, 1984) and third (bronze, Barcelona, 1992).
