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Armstrong Named to USA Roster for 2009 FINA World Championship
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. -- Collegiate Water Polo Association Hall of Fame Inductee, Arizona State University club water polo athlete and former University of Michigan standout goalie Betsey Armstrong has been named to the USA roster for the 2009 FINA World Championship. scheduled to begin July 19 in Rome, Italy.
The roster contains 12 Olympians including 10 members of the 2007 World Championship squad that won Gold in Melbourne, Australia.
The goalkeeper for the United
States National Team, Armstrong spent four seasons tending the cage
for the University of Michigan Wolverines, leading the team to four
divisional titles and two NCAA tournament appearances, including a
sixth-place finish at the 2005 NCAA Championship. She wrapped up
her U-M career as the program leader in blocks (1,267), minutes
(3,329), goals against average (5.64) and save percentage (.654).
She also holds the top four Michigan single-season blocks totals
and three of the top five spots on the single-season save
percentage and GAA lists.
During her career with the Maize and Blue, Armstrong racked up a
pair of divisional Most Valuable Player accolades (2003-04) and
four CWPA All-Division First Team honors (2002-05). Armstrong
excelled at the Eastern Championship, earning two MVP honors (2003,
'05) as part of three All-Eastern Championship first team
nominations (2002, 2004-05). On the national level, she earned
All-America recognition in each season, making the second team in
2004, third team in 2005 and honorable mention in her first two
campaigns at Michigan.
In May 2006, she earned a spot on the USA National Team following
an open tryout. In just under two years with the squad, Armstrong
has led Team USA to a gold medal at the XV Pan American Games --
securing the country's spot at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing,
China -- and gold medal victories in both the FINA World League and
FINA World Championships. At the World Championships, Armstrong was
recognized as the tournament’s Most Outstanding
Goalkeeper.
At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, she guided Team U.S.A. to the
gold medal game against the Netherlands as the team captured the
silver medal.
Three-time Olympian and Team Captain Brenda Villa will join Armstrong in leading the defending World Champions into Rome. They are joined by fellow three-time Olympian Heather Petri and returning 2008 Olympians Moriah van Norman, Kami Craig, Alison Gregorka, Brittany Hayes, Jaime Komer, Jessica Steffens, Lauren Wenger and Elsie Windes. 2008 alternate Erika Figge, 2004 Olympian Kelly Rulon, and 2008 Association of Collegeiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) Division I Player of the Year Tanya Gandy round out the group.
Recently named Head Coach Adam Krikorian, the former varsity head coach at the University of California-Los Angeles, will lead the team into Rome joined by Assistant Coaches Coralie Simmons, Brandon Brooks, Aaron Chaney, and Team Leader Serela Kay. Winners of the Silver Medal at the 2008 Olympic Games and defending World Champions from 2007, the team is coming off a Gold Medal at the 2009 FINA World League Super Final in Kirishi, Russia. Team USA begins the World Championships on July 19 with Kazakhstan before meeting Russia and Greece in opening pool play.
