Jan. 12, 2006

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Current Gamecock volleyball standout Shonda Cole has been invited to an open tryout for the 2006 USA Women’s National Team and associated programs beginning Fri., Jan. 13. The tryouts are held in Colorado Springs, Colo. at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, and will conclude on Sun., Jan. 15.

“It is quite an honor to even get the chance to tryout for USA Volleyball,” said Cole. “I am really excited about the opportunity. I like that I have gone through the process before and I have a better idea of what to expect.”

This past summer, Cole, an outside hitter, competed with the National Team led by head coach “Jenny” Lang Ping, and traveled to tournaments in Korea, Dominican Republic, China and Thailand.

Cole, a native of Kings Mountain, N.C., is a 2005 second team All-SEC selection and currently ranks ninth among USC’s all-time kill leaders with 1,072. She is the first Gamecock to train and compete with the National Team.