Aug. 11, 2010

NEW ZEALAND - Although less than a month away from leaving home to head to the United States to play for the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters, Jelena Vucinic is getting an opportunity of a lifetime.

The 5-foot-9 shooting guard has received an invitation from the New Zealand women's national team - The Tall Ferns - to participate in the trial camp from August 22 through the 24.

Vucinic's selection for the camp was based on her performances at various national and overseas competitions in the past.

The Tall Ferns have had a tremendous amount of success on the international stage, earning a Top 15 ranking in the past few years. Its current goal is to develop a squad of senior and junior players for qualification for the 2012 Olympic Games in London by providing international experiences and tours over the next few years.

If selected, Vucinic will travel to Japan Aug. 25 where the Tall Ferns will compete against the Japanese senior women's team in three friendly games in late August.

The 19-year-old from Nelson, New Zealand, has plenty of international experience, including playing for the 2006 National Under 16 Team, 2007 National Under 18 Team, 2008 National Under 19 Junior Tall ferns, 2009 National Under 21 Emerging Tall Ferns, and 2010 National Under 20 Team.

Both of her parents also have international experience as her mother Tatjana Zizic played for the Yugoslavian age group teams and also the New Zealand National Team while her father Nenad played for the New Zealand national team and is the current head coach of the country's national squad.

Vucinic is one of five newcomers joining the LA Tech program when fall classes start in early September, joining Shantale Bramble-Donaldson, Brittany Hardy, Shannon Smith and Angie Felton.

The Lady Techsters, who won the 2010 WAC Tournament title and competed in the NCAA Tournament for the 26th time in their program history, will also return eight letterwinners from last year's team that won 23 games.