U.S. Volleyball Berth at Stake in Scrimmages

The United States Women’s national volleyball team will play several intrasquad games at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at San Dieguito High School in Encinitas. But unlike most scrimmages, there will be an Olympic berth riding on the players’ performance.

Coach Terry Liskevych said that of the 18 women who are on the national team, there are four who are competing for the final spot on the 12-player squad. There is no international competition before departing for the Olympics.

“It’s a chance to see our team in action in San Diego, but also with something on the line,” Liskevych said. “We’re really trying to decipher what the Olympic 12 will look like.”

Some players whose positions on the team are secure are middle blockers Kim Oden from Irvine High School and Stanford, Tammy Liley from Westminster, Paula Weishoff and Deitre Collins, outside hitter Caren Kemner and back row specialist Liane Sato. All are former Olympians.

Though fourth in last year’s competition, the U.S. beat World Cup champion Cuba last month.

Tuesday’s exhibition is the first of three that will take place in coming weeks. The team plays June 23 at Rancho Bernardo High School, and July 9 at Southwestern College.

Admission at San Dieguito is $5 for adults, $3 for students. At Rancho Bernardo, it is $4 and $3, and at Southwestern, it is $5 and $3. Part of the money goes to the program hosting the scrimmage.

The team leaves July 19 for Tampa, Fla., for Olympic processing, then goes to Barcelona, where it opens Olympic play July 29 against Japan.