Veteran spiker Kelly-Anne Billingy has replaced Krystle Esdelle as captain of the senior women's volleyball team that will compete for a first ever FIVB Women's World Championship appearance when the 2014 NORCECA World Championship Qualifying Tournament, Women Group Q qualifiers serve off in La Habana, Cuba tomorrow until Saturday.
The decision was made after Esdelle, who is based in Romania was uncertain to make the journey for the competition up to the final week before the final 12-member team was announced.
Esdelle was the captain for the last six years after taking from the now retired Carleen Williams while Billingy last skippered the senior team almost eight years ago.
The four-team round-robin tournament involves host Cuba, the reigning five-time Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) champions and seventh NORCECA-ranked "Calypso Spikers" and fellow CAZOVA rivals Curacao and Haiti.
The teams will compete at the Palacio De Los Deportes, Ciudad Deportiva, at the end of which the group winner will qualify to the FIVB World Championship while the second placed teams in each group advances to the final qualification round in T&T at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo from June 2 to 9.
The other Third Round Women qualifying groups are Group P (Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guadeloupe) from May 13 to 19 in Santo Domingo; Group O (USA, Panama, Guatemala, Honduras) from May 13 to 19 in USA; Group S (Canada, Mexico, US Virgin Islands and Jamaica) from May 14 to 20 in Canada and Group R (Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, St Lucia, Barbados) from May 20-26 in Puerto Rico.
The T&T contingent headed by the T&T Volleyball Federation president, Daymian Stewart touched down at the Jose Marti Airport around 1am yesterday morning from Piarco International Airport via Panama and were quickly escorted to its base at the Hotel Tulipan.
Under the supervision of head coach, Cuban-born Francisco "Panchee" Cruz who has been with the team for the past eight years, the T&T women held a two hour training session at the tournament venue, the Palacio De Los Deportes, Ciudada, Deportiva and will have another session this afternoon (Tuesday) from 12.30pm ahead of their opening match against Haiti tomorrow (Wednesday) followed by matches against Curacao (Thursday) and Cuba on Friday night.
T&T women's team: Rheeza Grant, Abby Blackman, Rechez Lindsay, Channon Thompson, Marisha Herbert, Courtnee-Mae Clifford, Renele Ford, Jalicia Ross, Kelly-Anne Billingy, Darlene Ramdin, Sinead Jack, Krystle Esdelle.
Group Fixtures:
Wednesday May 14: Haiti vs T&T, 3pm; Cuba vs Curacao, 5pm
Thursday May 15: T&T vs Curacao, 3pm; Cuba vs Haiti, 5pm
Friday May 16: Curacao vs Haiti, 3pm; Cuba vs T&T, 7pm
Saturday May 17: Third vs Fourth; 3pm; First vs Second, 5pm