News Release
NEAR-CAPACITY CROWD AT WORLD LEAGUE VOLLEYBALL MATCH WATCHED MEN’S USA TEAM SWEEP ITALY
World Sport Chicago Showcases the City’s Enthusiasm for International Sporting Events
CHICAGO (May 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, a 2007 World League Volleyball match 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 United States Men’s National Volleyball Team won its third consecutive International Volleyball Federation World League match by completing a two-match weekend sweep over Italy at Chicago State.
Both Friday and Saturday near-capacity crowds, most of them aspiring young volleyball players, enthusiastically cheered the U.S. team to victory, when they took on the Italian’s national team 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 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. national men's 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 United States currently leads Pool B with 14 points, followed by France, Italy and Japan.
ESPNU, USA Volleyball’s broadcast partner, will show all the matches played in the United States on a tape-delayed basis on June 26th at 7 PM and 9 PM (back to back). 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 manger.
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