Press Release: April 21, 2023

Contact: Sokhary Chau, UCSA Board President: schau@u-cba.org

Andrew Oun, UCSA Board of Directors: aoun@u-cba.org

UMass Lowell Nursing Graduate joins historic first Women’s Beach Volleyball team

to compete in the SEA Games

The USA Cambodia Sports Association (UCSA) today announced its organization and entry of the

first Cambodian women’s beach volleyball team in history to compete in the South East Asian

Games (SEA Games) in Cambodia. The team is comprised of 4 Cambodian American women

that will travel to Phnom Penh, Cambodia in April to compete in May. The actual competition will

take place in Sihanoukville, Cambodia beginning May 11, 2023. This is the first time since the

genocide of the 1970’s that Cambodia will host these international games. Eleven countries from

the region will compete in this international competition. One of the local team members is a

graduate of UMass Lowell and is currently employed as a nurse by Mass General Hospital.

“This is a dynamic development that these Khmer American women will compete for their

Cambodian homeland, said UCSA Chairman Sokhary Chau, “they will make history on the

international stage.” The players all from the USA have Cambodian ancestry and therefore qualify

to compete with the Cambodian National Team. “Having a UMass nursing graduate originally

from Lowell just exemplifies our region,” Chau said.

All athletes travel to Cambodia paying their own travel expenses. When they reach Cambodia,

the National Team provides all other expenses for the team members. UCSA Board member

Andrew Oun stated, “the Cambodian American team members volunteer their time and expenses

for the honor to compete for Cambodia. It is a great token of pride to them and to their parents

for them to participate”. Many of the athletes will travel with family and friends for the trip to

Phnom Penh.

The Board will travel with the following team members:

Brittany Suon, California

Sabrina Touch, Colorado

Nancy Pin, Massachusetts

Marineth Huffaker, Colorado

In addition, 2 Cambodian American coaches will be traveling with the team and train with them in

the lead up to the May 2023 competition.

In addition to the competition, itinerary activities in Cambodia include meeting with the US

Ambassador to Cambodia and local contact with other female Cambodian athletes and schools

pending restrictions of Covid protocols.

For further information on the SEA Games, you can access this link: Cambodia2023.com

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