Oct. 30, 2007

Provided by Bill Kauffman, USA Volleyball

Colorado Springs, Colo. - Former Pacific great Jennifer Joines (Milpitas, Calif.) (2000-03) has been selected to the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team roster for the FIVB World Cup held Nov. 2-16 in Japan.

The FIVB World Cup, held every four years in the preceding year to the Olympics, is the first of three Olympic qualification steps for Beijing 2008. The top three teams at the World Cup qualify for the 2008 Olympics. Teams not making the World Cup medal stand will have two other opportunities to qualify for the Olympics with continental qualification tournaments in December 2007 and the World Olympic Qualification Tournament in May 2008 at Japan.

Team USA departed the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs Oct. 26 for Japan and the World Cup, which is a 12-team round robin event staged in four rounds in various Japanese cities. The World Cup field includes the five continental champions, the four best Continental vice-champions based on the 2007 FIVB World Ranking as of Jan. 15, 2007, host country Japan and the two wild cards as chosen by the FIVB and Japan Volleyball Association. The U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team earned its spot into the FIVB World Cup as the NORCECA Continental Championship silver medalist.

Joines has been selected to rosters for four of Team USA's events in 2007. She has compiled 2.16 points per set as a middle blocker averaging 0.49 blocks per set. Joines has provided the U.S. with a .386 attack percentage on 158 swings netting 79 kills in 55 sets. She has added 13 aces this season.