Former Burleson High School and Texas A&M; volleyball standout Stacy Sykora garnered the best digger, best receiver and best libero honors at the conclusion of the FIVB World Championship Qualification Tournament.
Sykora helped the U.S. Women’s National Team finish the NORCECA-Pool G tournament with a 3-0 record to clinch an automatic berth into next year’s FIVB World Championship in Japan after defeating Costa Rica, 25-15, 25-9, 25-15, on Wednesday in Orlando, Fla.
Sykora led all players with five digs per set during the tournament, posting 45 digs and no faults in 47 attempts.
She also posted 18 excellent receptions in 36 attempts, with only two faults, for a tournament-high 44.44 percent efficiency.
Led by Sykora’s triple crown for individual accolades, the USA dominated tournament honors at NORCECAs, staking claim to seven of the nine individual honors.
As Texas A&M;’s first varsity athlete to compete in three Olympics, Sykora was an outside hitter for the Aggies from 1995-98.
She earned All-America honors in her final two seasons and joined the national team in January 1999, one month after completing her college career.
Sykora quickly established herself as one of the best liberos in the world after joining the USA National Team and played in her first Olympics at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia.
She was Team USA’s designated libero, a defensive specialist position that was making its Olympic debut.
Sykora made her second Olympic team in 2004 and was named best digger at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
She then won a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing as Team USA won silver for only the second time in Olympic Games history, equaling the 1984 team for the best finish.
Team USA defeated Costa Rica, 25-15, 25-9, 25-15, on Wednesday to close out the tournament.
On Tuesday the Americans handed Barbados a 25-16, 25-11, 25-12 loss after opening tournament play with a 25-10, 25-9, 25-5 win over Netherlands Antilles on Tuesday.
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Burleson’s Sykora claims 3 accolades
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