When we covered the USA Men’s Volleyball scrimmage in the Gold Mine last week, we promised we’d keep you up to date on how the squad (which is packed with ex-Long Beach State players) did as they progressed through World League play.  Turns out we’re going to have some help.  Long Beach State assistant volleyball coach John Hawks will help coach the U.S. National Team in the World League 2009 in June and July, and while on the road will write a blog for the 49ers website (longbeachstate.com).

Hawks joins former Long Beach State head coach Alan Knipe, who is on a leave of absence serving as the head coach of the USA Volleyball Team through the 2012 Summer Olympics, and former 49ers David Lee, Paul Lotman, Tom Hoff, Scott Touzinsky and the rest of Team USA on the six-week, four-country tour.

Team USA opens play this weekend (June 13-14) when it faces the Netherlands in Rotterdam, Holland, before traveling to face Italy in Florence and Catania (June 19 and June 21). Team USA then returns home to face China in San Jose (June 26-27) on the front end of a home-and-home series with Team China. The two teams square off in Nanjing, China, the next weekend (July 4-5). Following the matches in China, Team USA heads back to the United States to face Team Italy (July 10-11) in Hoffman Estates, Ill., before traveling to Wichita, Kan., to face the Netherlands (July 17-18). The World League final round will be held in Belgrade, Serbia, July 22-26 with the qualifying teams advancing to play for the championship.

Check back with longbeachstate.com throughout the next two months to follow Hawks and the other 49ers as they represent Team USA and Long Beach State.

From LBSU reports