QUOTES FROM BAYLOR'S KENDAL VOLZ ON WINNING FISU GOLD MEDAL WITH TEAM USA

By Robert H. Kelly
Copyright 2008 TexSport Publications

WACO, TEXAS (July 27, 2008) One of the highlight of any athlete's career is to win a championship and a gold medal for their country. Baylor University's Kendal Volz was a part of both highlights while p-laying for USA Baseball National Team in the FISU World Championships in Brno, Czech Republic.

The USA sewed up the gold medal and the championships with a 1-0 defeat over Japan on Sunday evening.

The championship game against the Japanese lasted 12 innings that saw tremendous play from the USA. Volz echoed his and the teams' sentiment concerning their victory.

"What a great game; 12 innings, 1-0 ... it doesn't get much better than that.
This game had so many ups and downs for both teams. There were some
frustrating moments and some great defensive plays. This team played so
great all summer long. We got 10 hits tonight and just couldn't get a run across
until the very end. Finally we got a ball to bounce our way, and that's really
the way it was for this team all summer. This was a great opportunity, and I'm
so thankful to (National Team general manager) Eric Campbell and (Team USA head coach) Rob Walton for allowing me to be on this team. They needed me in the closer's role. It was a new role for me, but there are a lot of things I learned
as a closer that will benefit me when I return to a starter's role next spring."

Volz will return to the starting lineup at Baylor next spring.