June 15, 2007

Colorado Springs, Colo. - Cardinal junior Cynthia Barboza and the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team officially start the 2007 campaign at the 12-team Sixth Annual Pan American Cup June 21-29 in Colima, Mexico. The competition venue will be the Polideportivo Universitario de Villa de Alvarez.

Barboza, a First Team All-American in 2006, was also a 2006 All-Pac-10 selection, and led the Cardinal with 463 total kills and 4.21 kills per game. She also led the team with 48 service aces and was honored with All-Tournament honors at each of the Cardinal's three preseason tournaments.

The United States opens the tournament with pool play against Argentina on June 21 and continues play against Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago throughout the weekend. The quarterfinal round is set for June 27, followed by the semifinals on June 28. The second- and third-place teams from each pool advance to the quarterfinals, while the winner of each pool advances directly to the semifinals. The championship is slated for June 29. Team USA finished fourth at last year's Pan American Cup held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In addition to its qualification attempt into the 2008 FIVB World Grand Prix, Team USA will be looking at different roster lineups in an effort to find the best mix of players on the court at the same time as it attempts to secure one of 11 available spots into the 2008 Olympics.

While the 12 players represent the US at the Pan American Cup, 16 other national team players will remain in Colorado Springs with three coaches to train for the Pan American Games July 14-19 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, and the FIVB World Grand Prix Aug. 3-26 in various locations throughout Europe and Asia.