The National Women's Volleyball Team begins their 2003 season next week as they compete in the Pan American Cup in Saltillo, Mexico from June 30th to July 5th. The tournament, which is a qualification tournament for the 2004 World Grand Prix, plays host to the top eight ranked national teams in the Americas. Canada, who finished 3rd in the first Pan Am Cup last year behind Cuba and Domincan Republic, hope to use the tournament as preparation for the 2003 Grand Prix where they will compete against the top 12 teams in the world in Italy this July. Head coach Lorne Sawula said, "Considering that this is only our first competition of the year, it is an excellent opportunity to gauge our young team's prowess against high-quality international competition before the Grand Prix and our Olympic qualifier in December." Representing Canada at the Pan Am Cup will be: Setters: Anne-Marie Lemieux, Gina Schmidt ; Libero: Annie Lévesque Middle Blockers: Stephanie Wheler, Mélissa Raymond, Lies Verhoeff, Cheryl Stinson; Right Side Hitters: Amy Tutt, Julie Salyn; Power Hitters: Janis Kelly (Winnipeg, MB), Barb Bellini (White Rock, BC), Lisa Reynolds (Foam Lake, SK) Canada, who is currently ranked 23rd in the world, will play in Group A against Puerto Rico (14th), Brazil (5th), and the USA (3rd), with final rounds running July 3rd, 4th and 5th. Other teams include Cuba (4th), Venezuela (22nd), Dominican Republic (15th), and Mexico (26th).