COLORADO SPRINGS, May 3, 2005.- USA Volleyball, in partnership with The Sports Corp (Colorado Springs Sports Corporation), presents the Front Range Tour, a series of three matches between the USA Women’s National Volleyball Team and Brazil from June 2-6. The matches, pitting the world’s second-ranked team (Brazil) against No. 3 Team USA, will be the American women’s first international competition of the 2005 season and the first under new head coach “Jenny” Lang Ping (Beijing, China).  Lang Ping was named head coach on Feb. 7. 

 “The matches with Brazil will be a great test and prepare us for our upcoming tournaments since we will not have had enough time to get the team together for training,” said Lang Ping.  “It will also give us a good chance to get to know our players better in game situations.”

Before the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece last summer, the United States captured the silver medal at the Montreux Volley Masters and a bronze medal at the World Grand Prix.  In Athens, Team USA finished the 2004 Olympics tied for fifth place after losing to Brazil in the quarterfinals, 3-2. 

The Americans finished the 2004 season with a 20-16 record overall. 

Brazil, along with the United States, was one of the favorites to earn an Olympic medal in Athens but fell short in finishing fourth. 

Along with the Montreux Volley Masters, the Pan American Cup and the month-long World Grand Prix, Team USA's 2005 schedule features the NORCECA World Championship Qualifying Tournament from Aug. 13-19 in Puerto Rico and the NORCECA Championships from Sept. 2-9 in Trinidad and Tobago. 

The USA women will be the defending champions at the NORCECA Championships, which also serves as the qualifier for the Grand Champions Cup tournament in Japan from Nov. 15-20.  The 2006 FIVB World Championships will take place in Japan from Nov. 16-Dec. 3.