Trio of Cavaliers Named to USA U-21 Junior National Team

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Three members of the Virginia field hockey team – juniors Rachel Jennings and Paige Selenski and sophomore Tara Puffenberger – have each been named to the United States Under-21 Junior National Team, USA Field Hockey announced recently.

Jennings will return to international competition after previously competing as a member of the U.S. U-19 Olympic Development Team that toured Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2007. In two seasons at Virginia, Jennings has severed as an integral member of the midfield while also seeing time in the backfield.

Jennings, who hails from Macungie, Pa., will play alongside her sister, Tara, on the Junior National Team.

Earlier this summer Selenski, a native of Shavertown, Pa., was named to the United States National Team. She is currently touring Europe with the U.S. squad and Virginia teammate Michelle Vittese.

Selenski was a semifinalist for the Honda Award as a sophomore at Virginia last season. She was a 2009 first team All-American and led the Cavaliers with 27 goals, the third-most in program history. Selenski was tabbed the NFHCA South Regional Player of the Year in addition to being named a first-team all-south region and All-ACC selection for the second consecutive year.

A native of Dallas, Pa., Puffenberger is a three-time member of the United States U-21 squad and a two-time member of the U-16 team. She also previously played on international tours in Australia and the Netherlands. Puffenberger scored 10 goals as a freshman for Virginia last season.

Puffenberger and Selenski both played on the U.S. squad that competed in the summer of 2009 in the Junior World Cup and won gold at the 2008 Junior Pan American Games in Mexico City.

The U-21 Junior National Team is slated to compete in Asia in 2011.