Burlington Central's Holthus one step away from national team

A tryout in two weeks will determine just how busy a summer this will be for standout volleyball player Stephanie Holthus of Burlington Central.

The 2009 Honorary Captain of the Daily Herald All-Area Volleyball team in the Fox Valley, Holthus was among 800 athletes nationwide last winter who tried out for USA Volleyball's Women's Junior National Team (WJNT) in the 1992-93 age group.

Of the 800, Holthus was among 21 players selected to compete for 12 roster spots at a second tryout, which will take place May 20-23 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

If chosen for the final roster, Holthus will compete with the WJNT at the NORCECA Continental Championships in Tijuana, Mexico from July 4-12.

Committed to play college volleyball at Northwestern next fall, Holthus said she is humbled and thrilled by the opportunity.

"I know there are a lot of athletes across the country who would love to be in this position right now," Holthus said. "It's a crazy idea to think of all the players in the country who tried out for this that I've been chosen as one of the top 21. Hopefully, I'll make the team and bring it back for everyone."

Holthus has played at the highest levels of volleyball in her age group. Her Club Fusion 16 Black team won the JDVA championship in June of 2008. Five months later, she helped Burlington Central reach the Class 3A state title match and went on to compete with the USA Youth National Team in a tournament in Europe. Last summer she played for the USA High Performance Red squad, which won the gold medal. Holthus was named captain of that team and won the "Best Passer" award while playing libero.

If selected to play for the WJNT, Holthus will have a busy summer. She is expected to compete in mid to late June with her Club Fusion 18 Black teammates at the AAU national tournament in Florida. She would then leave to train with the WJNT at the University of Nevada-Reno from June 27-July 4 before leaving for Tijuana.

A busy summer of volleyball is fine with Holthus, a fierce competitor who wouldn't want it any other way.

"It's kind of crazy because all these years I've had this dream of playing on the national team," she said. "Hopefully, when I'm out of college, I can come back and try out for the Olympic team. I'm really excited for it."