SPARTANS O’REILLY AND TEAM CANADA TO HOST THE NETHERLANDS

Lauren O'Reilly

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2011
TEAM CANADA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARTANS O’REILLY AND TEAM CANADA TO HOST THE NETHERLANDS  

OSHAWA, Ontario - The National Women’s Volleyball Team is excited to be hosting the Netherlands National Team for a four-game series in three Ontario cities (Oshawa, Hamilton & Waterloo) this week between August 16-21. These will be the first matches for the Canadian squad since finishing in 7th place at the Pan Am Cup in Mexico in early July.

The matches in Oshawa and Hamilton will be webcast on www.sportscanada.tv.

Trinity Western setter Lauren O’Reilly will once again look to be a key contributor to Canada’s success after having started at the setting position in 17 of 26 sets at the Pan Am Cup.

This series will offer fans in Ontario an opportunity to see Team Canada’s top line up face the Netherlands as both teams prepare for the Olympic Qualification process that will begin the following month. Both the Canadian (ranked 20th in the world) and Netherlands (ranked 12th) national teams will be showing off their top squads as these matches will be instrumental in their preparations and lead up to their respective zone championships the following month.

These matches will also be the first time that Canada's offensive star, Sarah Pavan of Kitchener, will wear her countries uniform in her home province and home town for the first time.

"The team is really looking forward to these matches after a tough training period," stated Head Coach Arnd Ludwig. "We saw last year at the World Championship that we need to play more matches against top teams and the Netherlands have one of the top teams in the world. We practiced hard in the past few weeks and we see this series as a great preparation for our upcoming major tournaments, the NORCECA Championship next month in Puerto Rico and the Olympic Qualifier in January in Mexico."

"We are also happy that we are playing some matches in Ontario as it is important for us that people all over Canada see us play and see how hard the athletes work to compete at the highest level. We hope to have big support from the local communities in these matches."

Last year, O’Reilly, who rejoined the Spartans January after spending the fall with Canada’s national program, helped Trinity Western to its first ever women’s volleyball podium finish at the CIS Championships as they earned a bronze medal by beating Laval 3-1 (25-14, 25-19, 18-25, 25-20) in the third place match.

Match Schedule:
Tuesday, August 16, 7:30 p.m: Oshawa, ON General Motors Centre
Thursday, August 18, 7:30 p.m: Hamilton, ON McMaster University Burridge Gymnasium
Saturday, August 20, 7:30 p.m.: Waterloo, ON University of Waterloo Physical Activities Complex
Sunday, August 21, 3 p.m: Waterloo, ON University of Waterloo Physical Activities Complex

Canada's roster includes:

Julie Young, Red Deer, AB
Tammy Mahon, Holland, MB
Claire Hanna, Calgary, AB
Tonya Mokelki, Weyburn, SK
Carla Bradstock, Richmond, BC
Sarah Pavan, Kitchener, ON
Marisa Field, Kelowna, BC
Nadine Alphonse, Montreal, QC
Tasha Holness, Calgary, AB
Marie-Pier Methot, Baie-Comeau, QC
Elizabeth Cordonier, Vancouver, BC
Jennifer Hinze, Vancouver, BC
Brittney Page, Vernon, BC
Kyla Richey, Roberts Creek, BC
Lauren O'Reilly, Langley, BC
Head Coach: Arnd Ludwig
Asst Coach: Scott Koskie

-Volleyball Canada-
-TW-

Last Updated: 2011-08-16
Author: Mark Janzen
Email: Mark.Janzen@twu.ca