May 10, 2005

LAS VEGAS - Two integral parts of the UNLV softball program have been chosen to participate on softball's national scene. Marissa Nichols has accepted an invitation by the Amateur Softball Association and USA Softball to the 2005 Women's National Team Selection Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. The camp will take place from June 13-17. As Nichols attempts to make one of the two national teams, head coach Lonni Alameda will be helping out Canada's National Team as a pool coach.

Nichols has an opportunity to be selected to either an 18-member national team or a 16-member elite team to represent the United States in various international events in 2005. Of the 32 initial athletes to accept invitations to the camp, some notable Olympians appear, such as: Lisa Fernandez, Jennie Finch, Jessica Mendoza, Stacey Nuveman, Natasha Watley and Cat Osterman. On May 18, the Women's Selection Committee will announce the remaining athletes to the camp.

Alameda is one of eight coaches that Canada's head coach Lori Sippel, an assistant at Nebraska, has added to her staff in 2005. The eight coaches will be given a variety of roles between the senior, elite and junior women's national teams. Prior to the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, Alameda served as a guest coach for Team Canada. This summer she will be one of three U.S.-based collegiate coaches to assist Sippel. Joining Alameda are Patrick Murphy, Alabama's head coach, and John Tschida, head coach at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.