|
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, September 18,
2009 – Eight teams will be competing in the
biennial NORCECA Women’s Continental Tournament
for the regional bragging rights and the single
ticket available to the FIVB World Grand
Champions Cup in November.
The event will take place at Ruben Rodriguez
Coliseum of Bayamón, Puerto Rico through
September 22-27.
Fifth world ranked and defending champions Cuba
will play in Pool A alongside second world
ranked USA, Mexico (26th) and Costa
Rica (30th). Hosts Puerto Rico (18th),
Dominican Republic (14th), Canada (23rd)
and Trinidad & Tobago (53rd) comprise
Pool B.
Cuba has won 13 of the twenty editions of the
competition but USA, winner of five titles, has
emerged as the main powerhouse of the
continental event claiming three of the past
four championships. Mexico won the first two
tournaments.
The pool play runs through September 22-24 with
the winner of each group advancing directly to
the semi final round. The second and third place
teams then will play crossed matches in the
quarterfinals (September 25).
Four daily matches are scheduled starting at
14:00 (local time) with Puerto Rico playing
always at 20:00. All the matches of Puerto Rico
and those for the medals will be on national
television by TeleSports Channel 13. Matches can
be seen “on demand” via
www.mediasports.tv
Pool
A
The Dominican Republic, third-place finisher in
the past four editions and five of the last six,
relies on powerful hitters Bethania de la Cruz
and Prisilla Rivera supported by veteran
Milagros Cabral. Brenda Castillo is building a
solid reputation as libero while Annerys Vargas
and Lisvel Eve are capable defenders at the net.
Playing with the support of the home crowd,
Puerto Rico will depend mostly on the offense of
the tandem of Aury Cruz and Sarai Alvarez and
has Vilmarie Mojica as a reliable setter. Sheila
Ocasio and Alexandra Oquendo provide solid
blocking.
Canada’s top guns are Tiffany Dodds and Tammy
Mahon but Sherline Holness and Tonya Mokelki are
also offensive threats. The last time the North
Americans finished on the podium was in 1999
with a third place.
Trinidad & Tobago is a team with enormous but
raw physical talent, and Krystle Esdelle and
Kelly-Anne Billingy are the heavy hitters of the
squad.
Pool
B
Cuba, winner of the 2007 tournament and
runner-up in the previous three events, features
Nancy Carrillo and Kenia Carcaces, setters
Yanelis Santos and Yusidei Silie, and a new
source of power from the tandem of Wilma Salas
and Yoana Palacios.
The USA roster includes a high talented group of
veteran Olympians with Danielle Scott-Arruda,
Heather Bown, Logan Tom, Nancy Metcalf, Lindsey
Berg, Cynthia Barboza and Stacey Sykora. Also
young guns like Kristin Richards, Alexis Crimes
and Jordan Larson. The Americans finished second
in 2007 and were also runners-up in the five
editions that preceded their three-peat in 2001,
2003 and 2005.
Mexico won the tournament back in 1969 and 1971
but last finished among the top-three with third
places in 1979 and 1981. Youngsters Marta
Revuelta, Cecilia Rios and Xitlali Herrera are
joined by veteran Claudia Rodriguez to form the
core of the team.
Costa Rica, which defeated Mexico last month
qualifying to the 2010 World Championship,
strongly relies on siblings Verania and Angela
Willis and Karen Cope Charles.
Year-by-Year results
Year Gold Silver Bronze
1969 MEX CUB USA
1971 MEX CUB AHO
1973 CUB CAN USA
1975 CUB USA MEX
1977 CUB USA CAN
1979 CUB USA MEX
1981 USA CUB MEX
1983 USA CUB CAN
1985 CUB USA CAN
1987 CUB USA CAN
1989 CUB CAN USA
1991 CUB USA CAN
1993 CUB USA CAN
1995 CUB USA CAN
1997 CUB USA DOM
1999 CUB USA CAN
2001 USA CUB DOM
2003 USA CUB DOM
2005 USA CUB DOM
2007 CUB USA DOM
|
