WINNIPEG, MB - Four members of the UBC Thunderbirds 2010 CIS women's volleyball national championship winning team, in addition to a pair of stars from their 2009 CIS title winning squad, have been invited by Volleyball Canada to attend the National Women's Open High Performance Camp as well as the 2010 National Women's Selection Camp.

The Open High Performance Camp is scheduled from May 2-4 at the University of Manitoba. Selected athletes from the open camp will get an invitation to stay for the official selection camp, which will be held from May 5-8 also at the University of Manitoba. The complete schedule for the camps is outlined below.

Headlining the T-Bird contingent is CIS first-team All-Canadian Jen Hinze who was one of three UBC athletes invited directly to the national team selection camp. Joining Hinze are CIS second-team member Kyla Richey and CIS Libero of the Year Claire Hanna. Brina Derksen-Bergen, who has been the back-up setter for the T-Birds the last two seasons, was invited to the high performance camp.

Former T-Birds Carla Bradstock, the 2009 Canada West Player of the Year and CIS Championship MVP, and Marisa Field, a 2009 CIS All-Canadian and Championship all-star, will both be in Winnipeg following successful professional seasons in Europe this past year. Lisa Barclay, a standout from Brandon, MB and a future T-Bird in 2010-11, was the only high school athlete invited to the selection camp.

Following the selection camp, approximately 28 athletes will be selected for either the Senior A or B National Team programs. Those selected to the B Team following camp will train together through to the end of July. Those selected to the Senior A Team will train throughout the summer and fall with the main focus being preparation for and success at the 2010 World Championship this fall in Japan.

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Ben Schach
UBC Sports Information Director
604-822-9115 (office)
604-809-1485 (cell)
604-822-6011 (fax)