T&T's senior women's volleyball team will be hoping to create history when it competes at the 11th Women's Pan American Cup from July 12-20, in Juarez Ciudad, Mexico. For the 12-team tournament, T&T, a four-time Caribbean champion, will do battle in Pool B with title-holder and world second-ranked Brazil, Peru (#17), Argentina (#18), host Mexico (#27) and Costa Rica (#28). World top ranked USA, Dominican Republic (#9), Cuba (#10), Puerto Rico (#19), Canada (#22), and 26th-ranked Colombia are in Pool A. The 34th world ranked national women's squad coached by Cuban-born Francisco Cruz, opens its campaign against host Mexico in the final match of the opening day of competition at the Bachilleres Gymnasium, Tijuana on July 12 followed by clashes with Argentina (July 13), Brazil (July 14), Costa Rica (July 15) and Peru, a day later, before the playoffs serves off. T&T has never qualified for the main draw quarterfinals of the tournament and will be targeting victories against Costa Rica, Mexico and Peru, in order to secure a top three finish in its group which will cement a main draw knockout spot.
This year will mark the sixth straight appearance at the tournament for the local women's team which has finished tenth, three times (2009-2011) and 12th, both in 2007 and 2008. Apart from its win last year, Brazil also captured the Pan American Cup in 2006 and 2009 while Cuba, ranked third in Norceca behind USA and Dominican Republic, has won four titles, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2007. Dominican Republic which will compete in next month's London Olympic Games are two-time winners (2008, 2010) while USA has won once. The Krystle Esdelle-captain women's squad will have little time to rest as they will next compete in St Croix at the Senior Caribbean tourney from July 24 to 30. The final women's team will be selected on Wednesday while the team leaves for Mexico on July 10.
11th Women's Pan American Cup schedule
Venue: University Gymnasium (UACI)
Pool A:
July 12:
Dominican Rep vs Colombia, 12 noon
USA vs Canada, 2pm
Cuba vs Puerto Rico, 4pm
Opening Ceremony 7pm - Bachilleres Gymnasium (COBACH)
July 13:
Cuba vs Colombia, 4pm
Dominican Rep vs Canada, 6pm
USA vs Puerto Rico, 8pm
July 14:
Canada vs Colombia, 4pm
Dominican Rep vs Puerto Rico, 6pm
USA vs Cuba, 8pm
July 15:
USA vs Colombia, 4pm
Puerto Rico vs Canada, 6pm
Dominican Republic vs Cuba, 8pm
July 16:
Puerto Rico vs Colombia, 4pm
Cuba vs Canada, 6pm
USA vs Dominican Republic, 8pm
Venue: Bachilleres Gymnasium (COBACH)
Pool B:
July 12:
Brazil vs Costa Rica, 3pm
Argentina vs Peru, 5pm
Opening Ceremony, 7pm
Mexico vs T&T, 8pm
July 13:
Argentina vs T&T, 4pm
Brazil vs Peru, 6pm
Mexico vs Costa Rica, 8pm
July 14:
Brazil vs T&T, 4pm
Peru vs Costa Rica, 6pm
Mexico vs Argentina, 8pm
July 15:
Costa Rica vs T&T, 4pm
Brazil vs Argentina, 6pm
Mexico vs Peru, 8pm
July 16:
Peru vs T&T, 4pm
Argentina vs Costa Rica, 6pm
Mexico vs Brazil, 8pm
July 18:
Venue: UACI
Classification 7th - 10th
4A vs 5B
4B vs 5A
Classification 11th - 12th
6A vs 6B
Quarterfinals:
Venue: COBACH
2nd A vs 3rd B
2nd B vs 3rd A
July 19:
Classification fifth to Eighth
Classification Ninth to Tenth
Semifinals:
July 20:
Classification: Seventh to Eighth
Classification Fifth to Sixth
Third place
Finals
