LONG BEACH, Calif. -- With an Olympic berth on the line, Canada opened the mens NORCECA volleyball qualifying tournament Monday with a convincing 25-21, 25-13, 25 -15 win over the Dominican Republic. Coach Glenn Hoag said the Canadian team performed well, although Gord Perrin from Creston, B.C., hurt his back and his status for the next few games is uncertain. "I thought the guys played a good match," Hoag said after the win. "The Dominican Republic is a weaker team and usually its difficult to keep your focus." The NORCECA region covers North America, Central America and the Caribbean, with Cuba and the United States the teams to beat if Canada wants to qualify for the London Games. "We started slowly but we picked up our pace and set up our block defence and it looked good," said Hoag. "We need to work on our serving a little and our setter-hitter relationship, but thats mainly due to spacial orientation in this big, big gym." Saskatoons Gavin Schmitt scored 12 points for Canada against the 46th-ranked Dominicans. Canada, ranked 18th in the world, plays No. 17 Puerto Rico on Tuesday. "Theyre a much better team obviously, more experienced and play a much faster game," Hoag added. "(But) Im pretty confident. We beat them last summer twice." The tournament runs through Saturday. Dan Lewis said the Canadian team knows it has reached a level where it can compete with some of the best. A Canadian mens team hasnt played at the Olympics since the 1992 Games in Barcelona. "Today we looked a little but nervous at the start. Everybody knows which matches are the big matches," said Lewis. "The team over the last two years has really come together under Glenns leadership. "Our level is there and its really the last mental part, where youve got to put it together at the right time." To do that, he says they have to make the stress work for them rather than against them, and not focus on the result theyre trying to achieve. "If youre worrying about the result youre not focusing on the play and if you dont focus on the play, youre going to lose." He says he knows what he has to deal with stress and make it work for him. "Youve got to accept it and just know its there and youve got to funnel it to your intensity and in your favour. If we can do that as a group, were going to win this tournament." Canadas womens team failed to qualify for the Olympics at a tournament last week. cheap coach handbags . -- Tim Tebow wont be playing for his hometown team. coach factory outlet . The 19-year-old forward is riding a nine-game point streak and now has 17 goals and 46 points in 25 games, which leads the OHL in scoring. Mitchell Theoret and Anthony DiFruscia had the other goals for the IceDogs (16-7-2), who have won four of their last five contests, and Brett Ritchie chipped in with two assists. http://www.coach-factoryoutl... . The world No. 1 Sharapova handled Taiwans Su-Wei Hsieh 6-1, 6-4 in 81 minutes amid windy conditions on Court 1 at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. "Considering the conditions, Im pretty happy with the way I played," said Sharapova, who is now 16-1 in Grand Slam action this year. [url=http://www.coach-factoryoutletstoreonline.com/]coach outlet . The GMs gave high marks to the Los Angeles Lakers moves and picked them to win the Western Conference, but the Heat got 70 per cent of the votes to win the 2013 championship. coach outlet online . Veteran Darian Durant is nursing a hip flexor and did not practise this week. If he is not able to play, Chamblin will put the ball in the hands of Drew Willy, a rookie from the University of Buffalo.ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Hawks are in talks with Danny Ferry and could be close to reaching an agreement to hire the San Antonio executive as general manager. In a statement released to The Associated Press on Sunday night, the Hawks confirmed they have "reached out" to Ferry, also the former Cleveland general manager. "As we continue to evaluate our franchise and look to build a championship calibre organization, we reached out to Danny Ferry," the Hawks said. "We are engaged in conversation regarding the Atlanta Hawks and our basketball operations. As the situation evolves, we will update at the appropriate time." Hawks general manager Rick Sunds contract expires at the end of June. Sund did not return messages to The Associated Press on Saturday and Sunday. Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. told The Associated Press last month he hoped the 61-year-old Sund would continue as general manager. Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson declined comment Sunday. Gearon did not return messages on Sunday. Asked Sunday night about Sunds status, including a possible continued role as an adviser, Hawks spokesman Arthur Triche said in an email reply: "No details regarding that at this time." Ferrry became the Spurs vice-president of basketball operations in 2010.dddddddddddd. As Clevelands GM from 2005-10, he led the Cavs through the most successful period in their history. The NBA draft is Thursday. It is not known if the Hawks are hoping to reach an agreement with Ferry in time to direct the draft. Ferry also has been linked to a possible position with Philadelphia. After advancing to the second round of the playoffs three straight years, the Hawks were eliminated in the first round by Boston this year. The Hawks have exercised their option on coach Larry Drews contract for next season but did not offer a new deal. Atlanta finished 40-26, drawing praise from Sund for an "outstanding job," despite being without All-Star centre Al Horford for all but 11 games of the regular season. Horford returned in Game 4 of the Celtics series. The Hawks will return an experienced nucleus of Horford, six-time All-Star Joe Johnson and Josh Smith, who is entering the final year of his contract. Marvin Williams, point guard Jeff Teague and backup centre Pachulia also are under contract. The other nine players are free agents, leaving much work to be done by the general manager. ' ' '