T&T's senior indoor women's volleyball team's preparations for three upcoming international tournaments have been boosted by sponsorship of US$20,000 from Chaguanas-based Caribbean Recreational Initiatives Limited (CRIL).
This was stated by national player Courtnee-Mae Clifford at a media conference held on Monday at the Sport Company of T&T (SporTT) head office, Henry Street, Port-of-Spain.
Clifford, who is employed by CRIL, said she had been in discussion with her employers about securing financial assistance to the team and after a few meetings was delighted to get the good news.
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 in the final.
It was the second time T&T women had won the title on USVI soil, having captured their maiden crown there in 1996 followed by triumphs in 2006, 2008, 2010 and this year.The team, reigning five-time Caribbean champions, will play host to Barbados, Anguilla and Honduras in their Second Round FIVB Women's World Championship Qualifiers from May 23 to 27.
Following the qualifiers, which are scheduled for the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo, the "Calypso Spikers" will also compete at the Pan American Cup in Lima, Peru in June (5-16). It will mark 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.
In addition to T&T, 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.
