Matador Recruits Remain in China Waiting for Visas

Their biographies are included in a preliminary draft of the Cal State Northridge women’s volleyball media guide.

Their credentials, academically and athletically, are outstanding.

Their potential Northridge teammates have written them welcome letters in anticipation of their joining the team in time for its season opener Sept. 7 at UC Irvine.

But their chances of attending Northridge are slipping away.

Li He and Na Li, Chinese exchange students projected to make significant impacts for the Matadors this season, remain in their home country while university and community leaders continue to work toward obtaining visas for both.

He, a 5-foot-11 sophomore outside hitter, and Li, a 5-10 sophomore setter, are members of the China Junior Olympic program and, perhaps, the best Northridge recruits in the six-year tenure of Coach Lian Lu.

He and Li were expected to arrive next week. But both have been denied visas by the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

Lu’s eyes light up when discussing the players’ talents. His face bears a frown when contemplating their plight.

“They can jump so high,” Lu said. “They are top Olympic players. If we get them, we’ll win the Big Sky [Conference]. It’s a shame for our school, a shame for our team.”

He, 18, and Li, 20, attend the Xi’an Institute of Physical Education, where they maintain exceptional grade-point averages. Both have been admitted to Northridge and have received full scholarships as part of an exchange program between the universities that began in 1998.

He and Li have met the minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) requirements and have been determined by the university to be financially qualified to join among approximately 900 foreign-exchange students at Northridge.

Among the U.S. Embassy’s reasons for denial was a lack of “social, economic and other ties to their home country to compel their departure from the United States.”

Those championing the players’ cause have not given up the fight.

Louanne Kennedy, Northridge’s interim president, this week wrote letters on behalf of both students to the U.S. Embassy Visa Unit in Beijing, urging reconsideration of their visa applications.

Grace Collins, associate athletic director at Northridge, has solicited the aid of Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-Santa Clarita), who has made one unsuccessful attempt to persuade the embassy to reconsider. Collins spoke with members of McKeon’s office Thursday.

“We’ve contacted Congressman McKeon’s office and shared with them our [new] strategy,” Collins said. “We asked them to support us and they said they would.”

In a response to McKeon dated July 28, Mark Bysfield, acting chief of visa services, said He and Li “have been unable to demonstrate they have the ability and intention to be full-time students in the United States” and that they lack “adequate funds to cover all tuition, living and anticipated expenses without the benefit of off-campus employment.”

Bysfield also wrote that “many [Chinese]. . . . exchange-program participants use the chance to study in the United States as a means to immigrate.” Only 6% of Chinese students who study abroad return to China, the letter said.

Collins said the embassy does not fully understand the situation.

Both students, Collins said, intend to return to China and work as teachers at Xi’an. Both have received full scholarships valued at more than $23,000 to cover tuition, books, housing, food and incidental expenses.

“It shows they have the financial means to stay here to study,” Collins said. “We’ve made them aware of our relationship with the Xi’an Institute. We’ve [addressed] their objections. These two young women have been preparing to come for several months.”

But time is running short. Lu said He and Li are scheduled to meet with embassy officials next Thursday in a last-ditch effort to secure visas.

“We think it’s unreasonable,” Lu said of the situation. “Right now, we are really begging for [Northridge’s] support.”