VOLLEYBALL: It may be the offseason but many University of Utah volleyball players are priming for the 2005 season by taking part in the Global Challenge at the Intermountain Volleyball Association Training Center next week.

The international tournament will feature teams from Russia, Slovenia, China, Canada and from the Intermountain and other regions in the United States. The tournament begins on Monday at the IVA Training Center and runs through the entire week. Playoffs begin on Thursday morning.

"This tournament is a great opportunity for these players to continuously develop in the USA system while preparing for the college game as well," said Beth Launiere, the junior team coach and veteran Utah mentor. "There are a lot of talented teams from all over the world here this week and it's important for these athletes to get the chance to play at such a high level."

Utah spikers Emillie Toone and Kate Robison are playing on the junior team while other Utes, like Amie Tingey, Whitney Webb, Katie Theurer, Karlie Porter, Natalie Miller and Danielle Leichliter will be playing on one of three different college-level teams.