The fine-tuning for the World Championships begins tomorrow for the U.S. women's Olympic volleyball team.

That's when the United States, ranked No. 7 in the world, plays No. 12 Peru at 2 p.m. at UMBC Fieldhouse. It's the opening leg of a five-match, three-city East Coast tour that will serve as preparation for next month's World Championships in Japan as well as the 2000 Summer Olympics.

"We're building a team and right now, we're in the middle of the process," said Jim Coleman, the team's general manager. "It's basically a time to get better as a team, experiment with starting lineups and try different strategies. Our ultimate goal is to do well in the Olympics."

The U.S. team, which is made up of all former Division I All-Americans, relies on the setting of team captain Salima Davidson and the finishing ability of Alison Weston, the 1995 NCAA Player of the Year out of Nebraska. The United States is 17-17 competing against some of the world's best in China, Cuba, Russia and Brazil.

Tickets for tomorrow's match are $12 per person; children under age 12 are admitted free. The event will benefit the Baltimore Starlings Volleyball Club, an organization helping girls get involved in the sport.

Pub Date: 10/03/98