Representing Team USA

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Xolani Hodel and Kate Reilly have been named to the Beach U19 National Team following the U19 FIVB World Championship Trials last week in Huntington Beach, Calif.
 
"I am extremely excited to get the opportunity to represent the United States this summer," Reilly said. "This has always been a goal since I started in the USA High Performance program. With COVID delaying this tournament, there was a lot of time and build up going into it and it is an amazing feeling to know that the work Xo and I have put in during the past year is paying off."
 
Hodel and Reilly won 2-0 (23-21, 21-19) over Delaynie Maple and Megan Kraft from USC in the finale to earn gold and earn the United States' lone guaranteed berth. Thirty-eight teams entered the main draw, as Hodel and Reilly advanced out of Pool 4 with a 3-0 record. They then swept through bracket play, finishing the week with a 7-0 record, all straight-set wins.
 
"It means a lot to be able to represent Team USA," Hodel said. "Especially as a person of color in Beach Volleyball. I am super excited to represent and show what Kate and I can do at the Championship. We've been waiting to compete in the trials for a while with COVID delaying the competition, but I'm so excited we finally got the chance to compete and be given the amazing opportunity to represent Team USA in Thailand."
 
The U19 Beach World Championship will be held Sept. 15-19 in Roi Et, Thailand. Head coach Andrew Fuller will coach the boys U19 National Team at the event in September.