May 13, 2011

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern rising-sophomore Stephanie Holthus (Burlington, Ill./Central) has been named to the U.S. Women's Junior National Team (WJNT) 12-member roster, USA Volleyball announced Thursday (May 12).

Holthus will represent the United States at the FIVB Women's Junior World Championship (U-20) July 20-31 in Peru. Prior to leaving for the tournament, the team will train July 10-19 at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, Calif.

Holthus, an outside hitter, is one of six players named to the 2011 squad who competed with the 2010 WJNT, capturing the gold medal at the NORCECA Women's Junior (U-20) Continental Championship in Tijuana, Mexico.

"We are very excited to see Stephanie compete with the Junior National Team again," Northwestern head coach Keylor Chan said. "She has worked very hard to improve her volleyball skills over the past year and I know she will be a great ambassador for Northwestern and the United States."

Holthus started all 33 matches for Northwestern last year, playing a major role in the Wildcats earning a 20-win season and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history. She recorded 332 kills on the year to become the 11th freshman in school history to notch more than 300 kills in a season, earning All-Big Ten Freshman team honors along the way.

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