VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Several current and former University of Maryland student-athletes are vying to win the USA Field Hockey Women's National Championship this week as a number of Terrapins are representing three of the six regional High Performance Centers that USA Field Hockey embodies.

Maryland seniors Brianna Davies, Nicole Muracco and Alexis Pappas are playing for the Mid-Atlantic High Performance Center along with former Terps and current National Team players Lauren Powley, Dina Rizzo and Sara Silvetti. Tjerk van Herwaarden, who is entering his fifth season as an assistant coach at Maryland, is serving as head coach of the Mid-Atlantic squad.

Two-time Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year and All-American Katie O'Donnell, who will be a junior at Maryland in 2009, represents the New Jersey HPC. Keli Smith, a National Team member and Maryland player from 1997-2000, suits up for the Pennsylvania/California HPC.

The USA Field Hockey Women's National Championship is a round-robin tournament from June 20-27. In the spring, High Performance Centers serving the New England, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Midwest, South and California regions conducted open trials for college-age and older athletes. Once selected to a High Performance Center, athletes received elite-level training from some of the nation's top coaches over the course of the spring.

At the conclusion of the program, each High Performance Center selected a team to represent its region at the National Championships. Athletes competing in the tournament have the opportunity for selection to the U.S. National Squad. Rosters at the Championship include current U.S. National Team stars as well as recent college All-America selections.

The Pennsylvania / California HPC is the defending champion after defeating the Midwest in last year's championship final.

Follow the Terrapins at the USA Field Hockey National Championship by visiting usafieldhockey.com or by clicking on the link above.