Lausanne, Switzerland, August 28, 2012 – Two-time world champion Summer Ross leads USA’s beach volleyball teams to the FIVB SWATCH Junior World Championships in Halifax, Canada, August 29 to September 2.Ross won the 2010 FIVB SWATCH Youth World Championships - for players under 19 years of age - with partner Jane Croson. A month later, she also won the 2010 SWATCH Junior World Championships - for players under 21 - with Tara Roenicke.Ross will pair with Sara Hughes as USA’s No. 1 women’s team and go straight into the main draw. Hughes competed in the 2011 FIVB SWATCH Youth World Championships and tied for ninth with partner Justine Wong-Orantes.The No. 2 U.S. women’s team of Kirby Burnham and Jace Pardon is on the waiting list to compete if a team from another country cannot participate.Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic will be represented at the tournament for the first time by two pairs: the women’s team of Nairobi Agramonte and Diana Peguero, and men’s partners Luis Adames and Julio Romano.Alexis Garcia, president of the Dominican Volleyball Federation, stressed how important it is for the players to gain experience facing athletes from 15 other nations around the world."Our teams have to be active in international events, both beach and indoor, as that is the only way to develop our sport," said Garcia.