Simon Fraser University volleyball head coach Gina Schmidt was named to the coaching staff for the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kezan, Russia.
Schmidt, who took over the SFU volleyball program in February, will serve as the team leader.
"This is a great opportunity to work with some great coaches and athletes," said Schmidt in a press release. "I've done some work with the national team program in the past and I'm familiar with a lot of the players. I've heard that the FISU Games are a great experience and I am looking forward to it."
The Summer Universiade is an international multi-sport event that takes place every two years and is second only to the Olympic Games in the number of participating athletes and countries.
It is open to competitors who are at least 17 and less than 28 years of age as of Jan. 1 in the year of the Games.
"This will provide some exposure for our program and working with Team Canada will be a great experience to bring back to our student-athletes," said Schmidt.
Participants must be full-time students at a post-secondary institution or have graduated from a post-secondary institution in the year preceding the event.
Team Canada has been placed in pool B with Norway, Algeria and Brazil and will kick off the competition against Norway on July 8.
The team will then play Algeria on July 9 and Brazil on July 10 in an effort to qualify for the playoffs which will begin on July 12.
A total of 16 countries will compete in the volleyball competition.
