The national men's volleyball team will be hoping to duplicate the start by the women in Cuba when they come up against Costa Rica in their FIVB Men's World Championship qualification tournament NORCECA Pool Q opener at the Hershey Centre, Mississauga, Greater Ontario Toronto from 3 pm.
Two hours later, host Canada will meet Panama to close out the opening day of competition.
The four teams are vying for the one spot available to the final stage of the World Championship to be held in several cities of Poland, from August 20 to September 21.
The second place team will join the other three second place teams in third-round pools to compete in a final playoff from July 14-20 to decide NORCECA's fifth and final berth in the world championship.
The T&T squad includes two European-based players in Marc-Anthony Honore (Portugal) and Ryan Stewart (France) and also features experienced quartet Sean Morrison, Saleem Ali, Ryan Mahadeo, and Kevin Nimrod along with the emerging talented trio of Simon Blake, Daneil Williams and AKim Bushe.
Coach Gideon Dickson said the task to qualify will not be easy.
T&T is currently ranked eighth in NORCECA and 62nd in FIVB, the same position of Costa Rica, ranked 13th at the confederation level.
schedule
Today
T&T vs Costa Rica
Canada vs Panama
Tomorrow
Costa Rica vs Panama
Canada vs T&T
May 18
Panama vs T&T
Canada vs Costa Rica
May 19
Third Place vs Fourth Place
First Place vs Second Place
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