March 13, 2001

Colorado Springs, Colo. - Former Kansas State volleyball standout Kim Zschau was one of nine former college student-athletes invited to train with the United States Women's National Volleyball Team announced Monday by the organization.

The athletes were selected from a group of nearly 70 who tried out in Colorado Springs, Colo., in early February. The team has already began training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center under new National Team Coach Toshi Yoshida.

Joining Zschau on the team were Jennifer Maastricht (Wisconsin), Christie Wilson (Rhode Island), Charnette Fair (Minnesota), Christy Gittinger (St. Edwards), Tiffany Cronin (Northwestern State), Kelly Campbell (Colorado), Nicole Branagh (Minnesota) and Elisabeth Bachman (UCLA).

"This is an essential step in the national team pipeline," said Yoshida in a news release. "If these players continue to work hard they will have an excellent chance to continue their relationship with USA Volleyball with the 2003 World University Games and the 2004 Olympics."

A 6-foot-2 outside hitter from Dunedin, Fla., Zschau was a four-year starter for the Wildcats from 1995-98. One of the best players to play at K-State, she holds the school career records for kills (1,646), total attacks (4,632) and digs (1,578), while she ranks first in school history in career games played (457) and single-season games played (121). She is also one of four players in school history to tally 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career.

Zschau is one of eight players to have earned first team All-Big 12 Conference honors at least once in her career when she was named a unanimous selection as a senior in 1998. This followed her selection to the honorable mention team as a junior in 1997. She was named the Big 12 Player of the Week on Nov. 4, 1996, while she was a two-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree as a sophomore and junior in 1996 and 1997.

For more information on United States Women's National Team, please contact Gavin Markovits, Coordinator of Public Relations and Communications, at (719) 228-6800. The team can also be found on the internet at www.usavolleyball.org.