Duo to travel to National Team tryout

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas volleyball players Kelli Stipanovich and Kristin Seaton will travel to the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts Feb. 20-22, at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., it was announced this week. Stipanovich, a St. Louis, Mo., native, is an incoming sophomore while Seaton, a Ft. Smith, Ark., native, will be a senior on the 2009 Razorback team. “This is a great opportunity for these two young ladies,” said Arkansas head coach Robert Pulliza. “This is a chance to train and meet new people. It’s a chance to increase their volleyball knowledge as well as take on new experiences.” The tryouts provide athletes the chance to compete for spots on the USA Women’s Volleyball National Team program as well as the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team. This year’s U.S. Women’s National Team is headed by Coach Hugh McCutcheon. He will lead a staff of 30 coaches who, in turn, will lead the athletes through physical testing, drills and match play. As a true freshman on last year’s Razorback team, Stipanovich tallied a team-leading 303 kills. She averaged 2.83 kills-per-game, had 20 service aces, 131 digs and 21 blocks for Arkansas. Seaton added 150 kills, 10 service aces, 74 digs and 56 blocks moving between the middle and outside positions. The duo represents more than half of Arkansas’ returning offense for 2009.