Lancer men's volleyball head coach James Gravelle and athletic therapist Natalie Paladino have been named to Team Canada for the 2019 Summer Universiade in Naples, Italy.
 
Gravelle has been named the team leader/assistant coach for the men's volleyball team, while Paladino will serve as the athletic therapist with the same squad.
 
This is Gravelle's second trip to the Universiade as part of Team Canada. In 2017, he served as head coach with the men's volleyball team in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei. "It is such a special honour and privilege to represent Canada at the FISU games," said Gravelle. "As team leader I will be able to use some of my international volleyball, and especially my prior FISU experience, to help on the administrative end. I also look forward to the chance to work as an assistant coach with such strong coaches as head coach Dave Preston (McMaster) and fellow assistant coach Grant Wilson (Brandon). We are encouraged by the names on our interested athlete list and hope to improve on our 11th place finish in Taipei in 2017.  It's an added bonus to have fellow Lancer Natalie Paladino on our staff who is a consummate professional and excellent athletic therapist."
 
Paladino is representing the red and white for the third time in the last four years. In 2015, she worked with the men's soccer team in Gwangju, South Korea and then was athletic therapist with the Canadian women's hockey team in Almaty, Kazakhstan in 2017 when they brought home a silver medal.
 
"It is always an honour to represent Canada, and I am very excited to be a part of the men's volleyball staff for the 2019 FISU games," said Paladino. "I look forward to working with our fantastic coaching staff, athletes, and all members of team Canada's delegation."
 
Canada finished in 16th at the 2017 FISU Summer Universiade in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei with 13 medals (four gold, five silver, four bronze). This year's event is slated for Naples Italy, July 3-14.
 
Team Canada Men's Volleyball Staff
Head Coach: Dave Preston, McMaster
Team Leader/Assistant Coach:  James Gravelle, Windsor
Assistant Coach: Grant Wilson, Brandon
Athletic Therapist Natalie Paladino, Windsor