David Smith to carry U.S. flag into Opening Ceremonies at the WUG!

DATE: 8/7/2007
WUG--David Smith to carry U.S. flag into Opening Ceremonies at the World University Games

by Lisa Ramsperger - U.S. Olympic Committee ((719) 866-4805)

BANGKOK, Thailand – United States Men’s Volleyball player David Smith (Saugus, Calif./UC Irvine) was elected flag bearer of the U.S. team for the 2007 Summer World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand. Smith was named by the Team USA captains and will lead the U.S. delegation into the Opening Ceremonies tomorrow night, Wednesday, August 8, at Rajamangala National Stadium.

“It’s something I never thought I’d be able to do,” said Smith on being elected flag bearer. “It’s an amazing honor, and I’m looking forward to it – it’s going to be exciting.”

Smith just completed his senior season at UC Irvine where he helped the Anteaters to their first NCAA Men’s Volleyball National Championship and earned first team All-American honors. The middle blocker led the nation with a .559 hitting percentage, a UCI single season record, and hit .567 (67-6-97) in UCI’s five postseason wins. Smith averaged 2.44 kills per game in 2007, and he led the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation by hitting .573 (199-23-307) against opponents. He is the UCI career block assists leader with 471 and total blocks leader with 520.

“It’s been an amazing year – it’s definitely not what I expected,” Smith said. “I knew each season would get progressively better as I went on, but this year has been out of control. And, it just keeps getting better. I didn’t think at the beginning of this year that I would be participating on the WUG team, and I didn’t think I’d make it all the way here, but I did. It’s just been awesome.”

Smith, 22, is on playing on his first World University Games team. He has been a member of two USA Volleyball squads previously – the USA Junior National team that finished eighth in the 2005 FIVB Men’s U-21 World Volleyball Championships in Andhra Pradesh, India; and in 2004 he helped the USA Junior National Team to second place at the 2004 NORCECA Junior Men’s Volleyball Championship in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Smith is part of a 12-man roster competing on Team USA at the 24th Universiade. The squad is comprised of a group of current and former collegiate standouts (athletes one year out of college are still eligible), including two additional UC Irvine players: Jayson Jablonsky (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Brian Thornton (San Clemente, Calif.). The team is led by Long Beach State Men’s Volleyball Head Coach Alan Knipe.

“We only had about two weeks to train together. But, all of these guys are mostly guys I’ve played against during my college career,” Smith said. “Obviously, I had Jayson Jablonsky and Brian Thornton together with me at UCI. But, the rest are usually guys who you’re trying to stop. Now they’re my teammates so I don’t have to worry about them any more. They’re a great bunch of guys. Our personalities have clicked and everyone is so talented that it’s been easy to come together as a team.

“We’ve been playing well together. Every day we’re getting better and the offense is a lot smoother. I just hope that continues throughout the tournament.”

USA Volleyball opens play against Germany on Thursday, Aug. 9, at 5 p.m. at the IMPACT Convention Center. The team continues pool play with games against Sweden (Aug. 10), Japan (Aug. 11), Poland (Aug. 12) and Chinese Taipei (Aug. 13), with the gold medal match scheduled for Saturday, August 18 at 1 p.m.

The 2007 Summer World University Games run from August 8-18. Team USA consists of 144 athletes – 68 women and 76 men. Overall, more than 140 countries will be participating, and nearly 8,000 athletes will compete. The World University Games or Universiade, which include both summer and winter versions, are held every two years for student-athletes between the ages of 17 and 28. Eligible athletes must be registered for a full course of study at a university or have obtained their degrees within a year of the Games. The World University Games, sponsored by FISU, the International University Sport Federation, bring together top collegiate athletes from around the world for 11 days of competition in a multi-sport Olympic-style event. The U.S. entered the Summer World University Games for the first time in 1965 and hosted the 1993 Games in Buffalo, N.Y.

For more information, please visit www.usocpressbox.org, www.bangkok2007.com, www.fisu.net, or contact the USOC Communications Division (719-866-4529).

Author:
Lisa Ramsperger
Organization:
U.S. Olympic Committee
Phone:
(719) 866-4805