She'll be living out of a suitcase for the next month, calling California home for two weeks, then relocating to Thailand for two more weeks.
For Althoff High senior setter Carly Thomas, leaving friends and family behind to be a member of the U.S. Girls' Youth National Volleyball Team for the second straight year is a sacrifice she's glad to make.
"This is my goal, my dream," Thomas said. "I want to play for the United States in the Olympics one day. The only way I'll get there is if I stick in the program and there was no way I was going to drop out of it. You have to be dedicated and love it, and I do."
Thomas boarded a plane Monday morning for Chula Vista, Calif., where she will train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center for the next two weeks. On June 29, the team will fly to Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, to compete in the FIVB Girls' Youth World Championship July 3-12.
Team USA earned its ticket to the FIVB World Championship last summer when it won the NORCECA Girls' Youth Continental Championship in Puerto Rico. Thomas was named Best Setter in Puerto Rico with a tournament-high 2.87 assists per set.
Thomas said the competition is going to be much tougher than what Team USA faced in Puerto Rico.
"It's the world championships," Thomas said. "It's the best teams in the whole world in our age group, so it's definitely going to be a lot tougher than what we had last year.
"All of us are trying to learn the different style of play and learning to play with each other. All these other teams have been practicing together for almost six months now. We're trying to cram all that into two weeks."
Team USA is trying to make up for lost time by cramming two practice sessions and one video session each day while training in California. Thomas said her schedule consists of eating, sleeping and volleyball.
She said the physical part won't be a problem. The hardest part may be dealing with homesickness.
"That's always been a problem with me," Thomas said. "I get really, really homesick. But I've tried to prepare myself this time and I think I'll be OK because I'm with a bunch of girls that I already know, and I've been around the coaches so it's nothing new to me.
"Just being away for a month, that's a long time, but I think it will go by fast since we're playing every single day."
Thomas is one five players returning from the 2008 team that won the gold in Puerto Rico. The other returnees include libero Jennifer Bonilla (Reseda, Calif.), outside hitter Carly Wopat (Goleta, Calif.) and middle blockers Erica Denney (Centennial, Colo.) and Madelyn Hutson (Brentwood, Tenn.).
The 12-player roster was whittled down from hundreds who tried out at different sites around the country. Thomas' initial tryout was in Dallas several months ago. Nineteen girls were invited to the second tryout in California three weeks ago.
Thomas said she wasn't guaranteed a roster spot just because she made the team last year.
"I worked just as hard as I always do, but I think I had an advantage at my first tryout over the other girls because I am well-known to the coaches and I know what they like," Thomas said. "The other girls didn't know. That was an advantage for me."
Thomas is battling Hannah Allison, a 5-foot-11 setter from Siloam Springs, Ark., for the starting setting spot.
"Hannah is just as good and it's going to be tough," Thomas said.
Once in Thailand, Team USA will face a difficult draw. Ranked No. 4 in the latest FIVB world rankings, Team USA has been placed in Pool D with European champion and No. 11 Belgium, NORCECA runner-up and No. 19 Mexico, and Asian winner and two-time FIVB Girls' Youth World Championship gold-medalist, Japan, which is ranked No. 3.
The top two teams in each of the four pools advance to the top eight and will still be in contention for the gold medal.
"Usually when these players walk into the gym, they are the biggest and the best in the gym," said Team USA coach Jim Stone. "But now, they are going to be playing with and against kids that are just as big and just as talented as they are. They need to add some diversity to their game and have a second shot if the first shot is not scoring.
"The demands are going to be higher, the competition is going to be higher and they are going to have to adjust to that."
Thomas is eager for her second taste of international competition, even if it meant missing a trip to Miami to compete at nationals with her club volleyball team, Southwest Illinois.
"I love my club team and I'm going to miss them a lot, but this is a great opportunity for me," Thomas said. "I'm lucky."
