Amberg, Vogel and Wenger to Travel with U.S. Junior National Team
June 10, 2009
UCLA men's volleyball players Thomas Amberg and Nick Vogel and assistant coach J.T. Wenger will travel to India this summer as part of the U.S. Junior National Team's participation in the 2009 FIVB World Championship.
Amberg and Vogel, both 19, earned spots on the 12-player roster, announced by Head Coach Shawn Patchell on June 9. Wenger will serve on the coaching staff.
As true freshmen in 2009, both Amberg and Vogel each started 20 or more matches for the Bruins. Amberg earned All-MPSF Honorable Mention honors while leading the Bruins in blocking at 1.33 bpg, a figure that ranked eighth in the league. Vogel was UCLA's second leading blocker and hit for a percentage of .403.
Wenger, 28, earned a spot on the AVCA's "30 Under 30" coaches list in 2009 -- a group of up-and-coming young coaches compiled by the coaches association. In 2007 and '08, Wenger served as an assistant coach of the Boys USA U-15 Select Team. In December of 2007, Wenger coached the U.S. Team in Maccabi Games.
The team will begin training for the tournament on July 14 in Chula Vista, Calif.