Hawai'i players invited to national youth teams

Advertiser Staff

Several Hawai'i players were picked to play on youth national teams this summer. Earlier this year they participated, with nearly 500 other boys, in USA Volleyball's Boys 2004 High Performance tryouts.

Hitters Spencer McLachlin (Punahou) and Adam Tuifagu (Kamehameha), and setter Kawika Shoji (Iolani) earned spots on USA Volleyball's Youth National Training Team. University of Hawai'i assistant Tino Reyes is on the staff.

Punahou eighth-grader Erik Shoji is a libero on the 25-player roster for the National High Performance Boys Training Camp, made up of boys born in 1989 or later.

Outrigger Canoe Club's Matthew Brown and Jordan Inafuku earned spots on the Youth National A2 Team Training Roster, open to boys born in 1987 or '88.

UH freshman setter Brian Beckwith is on the Junior National Team Training roster, open to those born in 1985 or '86.

The Shojis are sons of UH Rainbow Wahine coach Dave Shoji. McLachlin is the son of former Punahou coach and current KFVE television analyst Chris McLachlin.

These athletes will represent their country this July, training with the national staffs at Olympic Centers. The travel squad of 12 for the youth national and junior national teams will travel to the Dominican Republic to compete against other teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean in an effort to win a bid for the 2005 World Championships in their age group.

Rosters for girls teams will be announced later.