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U.S Women Leave Monday for COLORADO SPRINGS CO (April 9, 2002)- The U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team leaves Monday, April 15, for its season-opening domestic tour against a Chinese team, Tianjin. The three-match tour begins at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Thursday April 18 at 7:30 p.m. (EST) and then moves to Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday April 19 at 7:30 p.m. The tour winds up at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit on Saturday April 20 at 7 p.m. With most of the established National Team players competing overseas in Italy and Japan and in the newly formed United States Professional Volleyball League (USPV), Yoshida will field his U.S. National Training Team for the April Tour. The team, which has been training together since the beginning of the year, includes 6-feet-7-inch middle blocker Tayyiba Haneef, a first-team American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American last season from Long Beach State University; and 6-1 setter Lizzy Fitzgerald, a second-team AVCA All-America choice and the 2001 Big Ten Conference Player of the Year. "I'm anxious to finally begin the 2002 season," says Toshi Yoshida, now starting his second year as head coach. "I believe this tour will be a great opportunity for me to see our young players in international competition." Last season in his first year as head coach, Yoshida guided Team USA to its best record since 1995 (21-10) and to the FIVB World Grand Prix and NORCECA Zone championships. The women, who finished the year ranked fifth in the world, also went 3-0 in qualifying for the 2002 World Volleyball Championships, which will be held Aug. 30-Sept. 15 in Germany. Ticket Information: Thursday, April 18 at 7:30pm - Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids Mich. Tickets are available at the arena box office, at Ticketmaster. (www.ticketmaster.com <http://www.ticketmaster.com ) or by calling 616-456-3333. Friday, April 19 at 7:30pm - Nationwide Arena, Columbus Ohio. Tickets are available at the arena box office, at Blue Jackets Zones or Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com <http://www.ticketmaster.com ) or by calling 614-431-3600. Saturday, April 20 at 7:00pm - The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, Mich. Tickets are available at the arena box office, on the web at www.palacenet.com, at Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com <http://www.ticketmaster.com ) or by calling 248-645-6666. Practice Schedule (April 10-12) at the Olympic Training Center, Sports Center II: Wednesday, April 10: 8:30 a.m.-Noon; 3-5:30
p.m. Download an April Tour Press Kit: http://www.usavolleyball.org/natteams/main.htm To arrange interviews or for more information
please contact: Paul Soriano, USA Volleyball Manager of Public Relations and
Publications, at (719) 228-6800. [Source: Paul Soriano, Manager, Public
Relations & Publications, USA Volleyball, 715 South Circle Drive, Colorado
Springs, CO 80910, Tel: (719) 228-6800, Fax: (719) 228-6899, paul.soriano@usav.org,
www.usavolleyball.org] |
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