April 19, 2006

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland senior Rachel Wagener is one of eight finalists competing for a wild-card spot on the AVP Beach Volleyball Tour in the 2006 CSTV Collegiate National Championship this week in Reno, Nev. Four two-person teams will compete in the two-day double elimination tournament with the winners being named the Beach Volleyball National Champion and given a spot on the AVP Tour.

The beach volleyball competition is part of the Collegiate Nationals (April 20 - 23), a showcase of college sports championships that features nearly 1,000 collegiate athletes competing for national collegiate championships in non-sanctioned sports such as snowboarding, wakeboarding, beach volleyball, boxing, and whitewater kayaking.

Wagener, a six-foot-four middle blocker, will be paired with the University of Colorado's right-side hitter, Allie Griffin, in the tournament.

In February, Maryland head coach Janice Kruger was contacted by the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) about players who could make the transition from the hard court game to beach volleyball and recommended Wagener. Selected players then participated in an All-Star Camp to earn one of the eight final spots in the Collegiate National Championships.

"This is an incredible opportunity for Rachel to explore another aspect of volleyball," said Kruger. "She has natural size which is such a benefit. I have no doubt that if Rachel decides to make this a priority, she could be successful in the beach game."

At the camp, Wagener was one of 30 players to learn the principles and fundamentals of the beach game from beach volleyball stars such as Karch Kiraly, Kerri Walsh, and Holly McPeak. The camp also included training games on the beach, sessions on philosophy with AVP professional players and staff as well as agility drills focusing on plyometrics, quickness and movement.

"It's exciting to think of where this could take me," remarked Wagener. "The beach game requires different movements - you can't push off from sand in the same way you can from a hardcourt, for instance. I'm trying to work on a lot of things, including my jumps, and get my sand legs."

Wagener led the Terrapins to a 28-5 overall record in 2005 and holds the all-time career records for total blocks (649) and hitting percentage (.341). The Terps earned a No. 24 national ranking in the CSTV/AVCA poll in 2005.

The beach volleyball tournament is slated for Friday - Saturday, April 20-21. For more information, visit www.cstv.com.