Canada loses opening match at Pan Am Cup women’s volleyball tournament

TIJUANA, Mexico – It took a couple of sets for Canada’s women’s volleyball to get untracked in its opening round robin match at the Pan Am Cup women’s volleyball tournament on Friday and by then the hill was to high to climb in what was eventually a five-set loss to Argentina.

The Argentineans, ranked 19^th in the world, took the match 22-25, 25-20, 25-22, 19-25, 15-11. It was the season opening match for the 2010 Canadian women’s volleyball team ranked 24^thinternationally and ultimately preparing for the world championships this fall in Japan.

“We were very nervous at the start of the match,” said Canadian national team coach Arnd Ludwig. “I felt that after we won the first set we would settle down but we didn’t get rid of that nervousness until the third set. In the final two sets we played really well.”

Sarah Pavan of Kitchener, Ont., led Canada in scoring with 23 points while Tammy Mahon of Holland, Man.,the Canadian captain, notched 14. Tonya Mokelki of Weyburn, Sask., added 10.

The 11-country tournament is split into two pools. Canada, Cuba, Argentina, number-one Brazil, number-six Cuba and number-13 the Dominican Republic are in pool A. Canada faces Cuba Saturday, Brazil Monday and the Dominican on Tuesday.

The fourth-ranked Americans are the top seeds in the other pool and are joined by Peru, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Costa Rica and Colombia. The Americans beat Peru 27-25, 25-22, 25-17 earlier Friday.

The top-three in each pool advance to the playoff round which starts June 24.

Canadian roster for the Pan Am Cup women’s volleyball tournament June 19-26 in Tijuana, Mexico.

Players; Tammy Mahon, Holland, Man.; Tonya Mokelki, Weyburn, Sask.; Ashley Voth, Winnipeg; Kyla Richey, Roberts Creek, B.C.; Jennifer Hinze, Vancouver; Marisa Field, Kelowna, B.C.; Tasha Holness, Calgary; Sarah Pavan, Kitchener, Ont.; Carla Bradstock, Richmond, B.C.; Janie Guimond, Bécancour, Que.; Julie Young, Red Deer, Alta.; Lauren O'Reilly, Langley, B.C.

Head Coach Arnd Ludwig

Assistant Coach Scott Koskie

Team Manager Diane Scott

Athletic Therapist Ben Trunzo

Statistician David Carrassco

For more information:

Louis Daignault

Volleyball Canada

Tel: (613) 824-9475

Skype: louis.daignault

E-mail: louisdaignault@rogers.com

Web: www.volleyball.ca

Facebook: Volleyball Canada

Twitter: http://twitter.com/VBallCanada