U.S. Women’s National Training Team Focal Point for Nine-Year Old Visitor

潇湘妃子

  COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 26, 2007) – For 9-year-old Madison Thomas of Castle Rock, Colo., Jan. 26 will be a day to remember.


Madison was the benefactor of a golden opportunity most children, and adults for that matter, rarely get to enjoy. She spent two hours interacting with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Training Team during its Friday training session at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Madison was part of the drills, team huddles, shagged some balls, peppered with former volleyball Olympian Sarah Noriega and gave some inspiring words to the team at the conclusion of the practice.

“I loved watching the players moving their feet, cheering on their teammates,” Madison responded after practice. “Everyone showed a lot of team respect.”

And her day was not complete at noon when the team departed for lunch. Tables were reserved in the U.S. Olympic Training Center’s Athlete Center for a private lunch for Madison and the volleyball team where she got to know the players better in an informal setting. During the lunch, she collected all the players’ autographs while wearing newly acquired USA Volleyball gear and projecting a lasting smiling.

The unique visit opportunity came about through an acquaintance of her mother, Marijane. After the acquaintance won a Douglas County Sheriff’s Office fundraiser silent-auction prize for a behind-the-scenes visit to the U.S. Olympic Training Center, the certificate was passed on to Marijane in November 2006, knowing Madison’s enthusiasm for the sport of volleyball.


For a young athlete often teased because of her unusual height at age 9, Madison seemed to be in her realm.

“She is often teased because of how tall she is,” Marijane said of her daughter, who is just under five-feet tall as a third grader at DCS Montessori Charter School in Castle Rock. “I keep telling her it is OK to be tall and sports can be fun. This experience relating to the national volleyball team will definitely help with her self-esteem and confidence building.”

Madison has been playing volleyball since first grade, a time when she watched her mother playing in a women’s recreational league in nearby Englewood, Colo.

“My volleyball hero is my mom,” Madison said. “I watched her play volleyball a couple years ago and she was really good at spiking.”

Although her time spent playing volleyball has not involved specialized positions at her age, Madison envisions herself playing setter when she gets older.

With Madison’s birthday passing just a week ago, today’s visit with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team turned into a late birthday present among new friends.

潇湘妃子

  COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 26, 2007) – For 9-year-old Madison Thomas of Castle Rock, Colo., Jan. 26 will be a day to remember.


Madison was the benefactor of a golden opportunity most children, and adults for that matter, rarely get to enjoy. She spent two hours interacting with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Training Team during its Friday training session at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Madison was part of the drills, team huddles, shagged some balls, peppered with former volleyball Olympian Sarah Noriega and gave some inspiring words to the team at the conclusion of the practice.

“I loved watching the players moving their feet, cheering on their teammates,” Madison responded after practice. “Everyone showed a lot of team respect.”

And her day was not complete at noon when the team departed for lunch. Tables were reserved in the U.S. Olympic Training Center’s Athlete Center for a private lunch for Madison and the volleyball team where she got to know the players better in an informal setting. During the lunch, she collected all the players’ autographs while wearing newly acquired USA Volleyball gear and projecting a lasting smiling.

The unique visit opportunity came about through an acquaintance of her mother, Marijane. After the acquaintance won a Douglas County Sheriff’s Office fundraiser silent-auction prize for a behind-the-scenes visit to the U.S. Olympic Training Center, the certificate was passed on to Marijane in November 2006, knowing Madison’s enthusiasm for the sport of volleyball.


For a young athlete often teased because of her unusual height at age 9, Madison seemed to be in her realm.

“She is often teased because of how tall she is,” Marijane said of her daughter, who is just under five-feet tall as a third grader at DCS Montessori Charter School in Castle Rock. “I keep telling her it is OK to be tall and sports can be fun. This experience relating to the national volleyball team will definitely help with her self-esteem and confidence building.”

Madison has been playing volleyball since first grade, a time when she watched her mother playing in a women’s recreational league in nearby Englewood, Colo.

“My volleyball hero is my mom,” Madison said. “I watched her play volleyball a couple years ago and she was really good at spiking.”

Although her time spent playing volleyball has not involved specialized positions at her age, Madison envisions herself playing setter when she gets older.

With Madison’s birthday passing just a week ago, today’s visit with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team turned into a late birthday present among new friends.

圣城少爷

看到了我的偶像....美丽大方的noriega....

不知道她现在是否为美国排协服务呢....

valentine

引用第1楼圣城少爷于2007-01-30 08:25发表的:
看到了我的偶像....美丽大方的noriega....

不知道她现在是否为美国排协服务呢....

我也第一眼就看到了，美丽的诺雷加姐姐，现在完全退役做教练了么？！

copra

難怪我覺得很眼熟
原本就是Noriega
Metcalf之前的左手接應

美國這麼早就已經開始國家隊的培訓了
不知道是從今年開始這樣
還是之前就都一直有這種慣例
想必是憋足一口氣 狠下心來栽培好的選手

drdr

我曾经看过一场Noriega的比赛，好像很牛。不知道为什么后来就消失了……

keikei

i can see my dearest candace [s:2]  [s:2]

valentine

引用第5楼keikei于2007-01-31 14:12发表的:
i can see my dearest candace [s:2]  [s:2]

第一张最左边那个么？我怎么觉得不像？！

keikei

really?omg..i think is her..hope i am right!!!
becuase..she is really training in the COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo
but i am not sure!!! [s:4]

valentine

引用第7楼keikei于2007-01-31 20:43发表的:
really?omg..i think is her..hope i am right!!!
becuase..she is really training in the COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo
but i am not sure!!! [s:4]

我也不确定，也许是她吧！