Canada's men's volleyball team will be back in the FIVB World Volleyball League in the spring of 2007, the team's first appearance in the prestigious league since 2000.
Canada's place was confirmed in a series of World League meetings last weekend at the FIVB headquarters in Switzerland.
``We are very excited with the news,'' Canadian men's coach Glenn Hoag said in a statement. ``As a coach you always look at playing good teams and World League will offer that. We will face tough travel and have to performance under pressure which will make us grow as a group.''
No. 12-ranked Canada will compete in Pool A with top-ranked Brazil, Korea (11th) and Finland (35th). The Canadians will open against Finland from May 25 to 27. Tentative host cities for Canada's matches include Mississauga, Ont., Ottawa, Halifax, and Winnipeg.
The FIVB rejected Canada's bid last year to compete in the 2006 season, however with a stronger program and additional funding in place, the sport's world governing body accepted the Canadian team for 2007.
Canada finished 11th in the World League in 2000. The team's best finish was seventh in 1992.
The FIVB World League was created in 1990, and features US$20 million in prize money distributed among the 16 participating teams.
