July 17, 2009

DeKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois volleyball sophomore setter Kristin Hoffman (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) has been selected to the Youth National A2 Program and will compete in the 2009 Global Challenge Tournament in Pula, Croatia this month.

"I'm really happy for Kristin," said NIU head coach Ray Gooden, who went to the same tournament as a coach of one of the teams last July. "It gives not only Kristin, but our NIU volleyball program a tremendous opportunity to broaden our volleyball and cultural minds."

Hoffman, who is the fourth Huskie under Gooden to compete or coach internationally, was selected from a group of over 100 eligible players to train with the Youth National A2 Program. The team consists of players that are 20 years-old or younger and are either in a university program or college bound this fall. In order to be in that pool of players, Hoffman attended the National Team open tryout in Colorado Springs, Colo. in February along with teammates Maddie Hughes (St. Charles, Ill./North), Allison McGlaughlin (Morton, Ill./Morton), and Meagan Schoenrock (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview), while Gooden served as a court coach and evaluator.

The Youth National A2 team will train for three days in Switzerland before they head to Pula for the tournament. Hoffman's trip overseas will conclude in Venice, Italy, and she will return to the states on July 25. Her experience can be followed through her journal entries on the event's website.