News Release
NEAR-CAPACITY CROWD AT WORLD LEAGUE VOLLEYBALL MATCH WATCHES TEAM USA SWEEP ITALY
World Sport Chicago Showcases the City’s Enthusiasm for International Sporting Events
CHICAGO (June 20, 2007) – World Sport Chicago, along with USA Volleyball and the International Federation of Volleyball (FIVB), presented its second major international sporting event when the U.S. Men’s National Team took on Italy in two 2007 World League Volleyball matches on June 15-16 at the Emil and Patricia A. Jones Convocation Center on the campus of Chicago State University.
With chants of “USA, USA!” drowning out all other noise before the games, the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team completed a weekend sweep against Italy (3-1 and 3-0) for their second and third straight World League wins.
Both matches on Friday and Saturday drew near-capacity crowds, most of them aspiring young volleyball players who enthusiastically cheered the U.S. team to victory over a squad that is currently ranked No. 2 in the world and has won the FIVB World League title eight times since 1990.
“This was another exciting international event that we at World Sport Chicago were thrilled to be a part of,” said Michael Conley, executive director of World Sport Chicago. “The overwhelming success of this event is extremely encouraging and we look forward to the continued support and enthusiasm being extended into future events.”
It was also a great homecoming for U.S. Team Captain Tom Hoff, who grew up in Park Ridge, Ill., and outside hitter Sean Rooney, who is originally from Wheaton, Ill.
“It was great to be able to win Italy in my hometown with my friends and family cheering us on,” said Hoff. “The crowd was unbelievable and Chicago State University was a great venue for the match. It was an awesome weekend and it was a remarkable event.”
The U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team will play four more World League Volleyball matches over the next two weeks for the chance to play in the World League Finals on July 11-15 in Katowice, Poland. Each winner of the four international pools, the Polish National Team and a wild card team selected by FIVB will advance to the finals.
The U.S. currently leads Pool B with 14 points, followed by France, Italy and Japan.
ESPNU, USA Volleyball's broadcast partner, will broadcast both matches back-to-back on Tuesday, June 26th at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. EDT (6 p.m. and 8 p.m. CDT). Commentary will be provided by 1984 Olympic volleyball gold medalist Chris Marlowe and two-time Olympian Kevin Barnett, a native of Naperville, Ill.
For more information on World Sport Chicago, visit www.worldsportchicago.org.
For further information, please contact:
Jessica Judge
World Sport Chicago
Office: 312-616-5450
jjudge@chicago2016.org
Tracy Straub
Hill & Knowlton
Office: 312-202-6553
tracy.straub@hillandknowton.com
About World Sport Chicago
World Sport Chicago (WSC) is an Illinois not-for-profit working to enhance the image, awareness and participation in Olympic sports across Chicago and to extend Chicago’s international outreach through and for sport and youth. Focused on promoting the development of recreational and competitive sport to the area’s youth, WSC works closely with Chicago 2016 and Chicago’s 2016’s Athlete’s Advisory Counsel (AAC) to provide sport expertise and athlete insight to the execution of these sporting events. WSC intends to aid Chicago in developing a sustainable, international sporting legacy, as a real agent of social change for the City. Michael Conley, Sr., an Olympic medalist in the triple jump, serves as executive director. William Scherr, an Olympic medalist in wrestling, is chairman of the board. Jessica Judge serves as the operations manager.
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