June 22, 2009

IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's volleyball head coach Paula Weishoff has joined the USA Women's National Team coaching staff for the eighth Women's Pan American Cup. Weishoff joins the staff, headed by Hugh McCutcheon. Also assisting McCutcheon are Karch Kiraly and Troy Tanner.

The Women's Pan American Cup is a qualifying tournament into the 2010 FIVB World Grand Prix and the 2009 Women's Final Four. The top three NORCECA teams and top team from South America receive berths into next year's FIVB World Grand Prix. The top two teams from NORCECA, Brazil and the top remaining team from South America qualify for the Final Four to be hosted by Brazil. The women's national team, part of Pool A, begins competition June 26 against Costa Rica at the University of Miami. The team then faces Guatemala June 27 and Mexico June 28. Team USA continues action June 29 against Peru and concludes pool play against Puerto Rico June 30. All U.S. pool matches are slated to begin at 8:00 p.m. (ET).

Pool B, played at nearby Florida International University's U.S. Century Bank Arena, includes Argentina, top-ranked Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic and Trinidad & Tobago. The 2008 Olympic Games gold-medal participants of U.S. and Brazil are on opposite sides of the bracket.

After the preliminary pool round, the Pan American Cup quarterfinal and classification matches are set for July 2, followed by semifinal matches and additional classification matches on July 3. The championship match and final classification round matches are scheduled for July 4. All non-pool matches will be played at University of Miami. Classification round matches will be played on July 2 and July 3 at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. (all ET). The final classification matches on July 4 will be played at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. (all ET).