Full time women’s national team training centre underway in Winnipeg

Winnipeg, MB – Five players, including one from Canada’s world championship team, began training this week at the women’s national volleyball team full time training centre at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.

The objective of the training centre focuses on recently graduated CIS/CCAA national team level athletes to help prepare them for international level training and eventually competition. Nadine Alphonse of Laval, QC who was on the World Championship squad from this past fall, is one of the athletes who have recently returned to Winnipeg. The other athletes include Beth Clark from Regina, SK, Marie-Pier Murray-Methot from Montréal, QC, and Claire Hanna and Kelci French both of Calgary, AB. It is expected other athletes will join the training group over the next few months leading into the annual selection camp scheduled for May.

Head Coach Arnd Ludwig and Assistant Coach Scott Koskie will be working with experts from the Canadian Sport Centre Manitoba in the areas of Strength & Conditioning, Sport Physiology, Sport Psychology, Nutrition and Sport Medicine to provide the athletes with a solid foundation for the 2011 international volleyball season.

"I hope the girls will improve on their individual techniques and physical abilities," said national team Head Coach Arnd Ludwig on his expectations for this training program. "We want to prepare them to contribute more with either our A or B teams. All of them should play a part in one of these two programs this summer. We also want to prepare them for future professional involvement so we can develop a bigger pool of athletes playing in higher level leagues to choose for the national team program each season."

Canada’s other world championship team members are currently scattered around the globe. Here is a list with names, hometowns, with team/country.

Lauren O’Reilly (Langley, BC) - Trinity Western University, BC

Jennifer Hinze (Vancouver, BC) - University of British Columbia, BC

Kyla Richey (Roberts Creek, BC) - University of British Columbia, BC

Tammy Mahon (Holland, MB) - Panathinaikos, Greece

Tiffany Dodds (Lucky Lake, SK) - Ageo Medics, Japan

Sarah Pavan (Kitchener, ON) - Korea Expressway, Korea

Brittney Page (Vernon, BC) - Paka, Finland

Tonya Mokelki (Weyburn, SK) - SV Sinsheim, Germany

Marisa Field (Kelowna, BC) - SV Sinsheim, Germany

Tasha Holness (Calgary, AB) - VC Wiesbaden, Germany

Carla Bradstock (Richmond, BC), Julie Young (Red Deer, AB) and Janie Guimond (Becancour, QC) are still pursuing playing opportunities overseas or recovering and rehabilitating from injury.

-30-