WINNIPEG – Five current or former UBC Thunderbirds will be donning the Red and White of Team Canada this summer, hoping to earn a spot on the Canadian team that will travel to the 2010 FIVB World Championships in Japan from October 29 to November 14.

Current T-Birds Jen Hinze and Kyla Richey as well as former standouts Carla Bradstock, Marisa Field, and Claire Hanna are all members of Canada's Senior National 'A' Team, with a select group from that squad carrying on to the World Championships this fall.

All five of these players have been major contributors to the T-Birds three-straight CIS Championships (2008, '09, '10) with Hinze, Richey, and Hanna all starring as part of the T-Birds undefeated 2009-10 squad.

Last season both Hinze, a 6-foot-2 fourth year middle blocker, and Richey, a 6-foot-1 third year outside hitter, were recognized as All-Canadians with Hinze taking first-team honours and Richey a spot on the second-team.

Their inclusion on the Senior National 'A' Team could, however, preclude them from playing with the T-Birds during the fall if they are chosen to represent Canada at the World Championships. If that were to occur, they would both be expected back on the varsity squad when play resumed in January after the winter break.

Of the T-Bird alums, Bradstock (2004-08) is all but assured of a spot on the squad heading to Japan as the 2008 Canada West MVP was only one of two setters named to the Senior National 'A' Team.

Field, a 2009 second-team All-Canadian, spent three seasons at UBC (2007-09) after beginning her post secondary career at UBC-O and picked up a pair of national titles with the 'Birds. A 6-foot-2 middle blocker, both her and Bradstock spent last season playing professionally in Europe.

Hanna, the reigning CIS Libero of the Year and two-time Canada West Libero of the Year, is one of three liberos battling it out for an anticipated two spots on the 14-woman World Championship roster.

Team Canada is scheduled to compete in the 2010 Pan Am Cup from June 16-27 in Baja California, Mexico and an exhibition series based out of Belgium in late July through early August as they prepare for their trip to Japan.

Final roster decisions for the World Championships are expected later in the summer.

-30-