T&T's senior women's volleyball squad is set to make its seventh straight appearance at the 12th Women's Volleyball Pan American Cup.
The tournament takes place in the cities of Lima and Iquitos, Peru from June 5-16. The official announcement was made by NORCECA Sport Events Department on Wednesday and marks the first time that a South American country will be hosting the intercontinental event, a qualifying competition to the FIVB World Grand Prix of the following year.
Mexico has organized the competition eight times while the event has taken place once in Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and USA.
In addition to T&T, the reigning four-time Caribbean champions and five-time winners overall will compete against defending champions and two-time winners USA, three-time champions Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, four-time victors Cuba, two-time champ Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and hosts Peru in the 12-team event.
Last year in Mexico, USA bounced back from a 0-2 deficit to defeat Brazil (28-30, 18-25, 25-22, 25-21, 15-11) for the gold medal.
The bronze went to Cuba following a five-set victory over Dominican Republic while T&T was tenth after losing to Costa Rica in their playoff.
In their previous appearances at the Pan American Cup, T&T, which is currently preparing to host the second round four-team qualifying group (T&T, Anguilla, Barbados, Honduras) from May 23-27 for the 2014 FIVB World Championship finished 10th three times (2009-2011) and 12th, both in 2007 and 2008.
Last July, the Krystle Esdelle-led "Calypso Spikers" secured a fourth straight title and fifth overall at the 14th Senior Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association Championship (CAZOVA) in St Croix, US Virgin Islands beating six-time winners Barbados (1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000 & 2002) 25-16, 25-19, 25-19 in the final.
It was the second time T&T women had won the title on USVI soil, having captured its maiden crown there in 1996 followed by triumphs in 2006, 2008, 2010 and this year.
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