Cindy Yuan turned down an opportunity to play for the Chinese national volleyball team and any hopes of playing in the Olympics to get an education in the United States.

Groomed since age 8 to play indoor volleyball in Beijing’s national program, the 6-foot-2 Barry University junior is one of the country’s top Division II players.

“She could play Division I volleyball,” Barry coach Dave Nichols said. “She never makes mistakes. She’s like a basketball player. She can dribble, she can rebound, she can shoot, she can pass, she can defend. She is so complete in her skills.”

Against first-year team Lynn University Tuesday night, the 1996-97 Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year showed machinelike precision in the Bucs 15-2, 15-6, 15-3 victory.

Yuan and Hollywood Hills graduate Michelle Heuton combined for 13 kills. Barry is 15-3 and ranked sixth in the nation.

“If the team we play against is very good Cindy will get fired up,” Nichols said. “If the team is not that good, she just will be quietly efficient.”

Yuan was able to sit out the third game. “I don’t get a lot of chances to do that,” said the junior All-American. Yuan was a member of the Chinese junior national team at age 16. She quit three years later.

“At first, the coaches in China were not happy, but we are allowed to say ‘no,’ ” Yuan said. “People don’t understand our system in China. They think we take steroids. They don’t understand sometimes we are better than other players from other countries.”

Yuan was recruited by various Division I teams, including University of California at Santa Barbara. But it took time for her to leave her homeland. At first, the Chinese government refused to give her a passport. By the time she was granted a visa and allowed to leave the country, she was too old to play Division I volleyball in the United States.

“They wanted me to play for them but I knew I would have a very good opportunity here to study,” Yuan said. “Maybe a couple years ago I could have played in the Olympics but not anymore. That dream is over. My dream now is a career.”

“All international players here are looking for a better life,” Nichols said. “They are thrilled to come to this country.”

Now 26, she enjoys playing while finishing her degree in computer management systems.

“I think every volleyball coach in the country is jealous of us,” said Nichols, who has learned most of China’s volleyball drills from Yuan. “I look to her to help our other players. She is that knowledgeable. I tap into her as a resource.”

Yuan hopes to move to California after graduating and work as a graduate assistant at UC-Berkeley.

Playing a first-year team Tuesday night gave Nichols the opportunity to play reserves, and leave two top players, including Russian senior middle hitter Elvira Vakhidova, at home.

“Our bench works just as hard as our starters and they deserve a chance to play as well,” Nichols said.

Other volleyball

Nova Southeastern d. Palm Beach Atlantic 15-9, 15-3, 11-15, 15-3: Michelle Mertens of Cooper City High returned after missing three matches because of a dislocated pinky for Nova Southeastern (23-9, 12-3 in the Florida Sun Conference). Palm Beach Atlantic is 22-19, 10-4.

Northwood University d. Florida Memorial 15-6, 15-8, 15-9: Amanda Shaw and Nina Scierka each contributed eight kills. Laura Mathews added 34 assists. Northwood is 10-22.

Golf

The University of Florida men’s golf team shot a 25-over par 877 to tie for third at the Jerry Pate Intercollegiate tournament in Birmingham, Ala.

The Gators finished 13 strokes behind tournament champ Clemson. Steve Scott of Coral Springs shot was ninth overall with a 2-over 215, five behind medalist Rory Sabbatini of Arizona. Other Florida finishers: Kevin Mihailoff 222, Josh McCumber 223, Steve Bradley 223, Ben Taylor 227.

Schedule

MEN’S SOCCER

Barry at Tampa, 7:30 p.m.; St. Thomas University at Palm Beach Atlantic, 4 p.m.; Jacksonville at FAU, 7:30 p.m.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Nova Southeastern at St. Thomas University, 4 p.m.; Eckerd at Lynn, 3:30 p.m.; Palm Beach Atlantic vs. Broward Community College at Nova Southeastern, 4 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL

FIU at Florida Atlantic, 7 p.m.; Palm Beach Atlantic at Broward Community College, 4 p.m.; Florida Tech at Lynn, 7:30 p.m.