Former national women's youth team captain Malika Yorke has been included in a 12-member squad that will leave on Monday for Pachuca, Mexico City to compete at the 13th Women's Pan American Cup from June 9 - 19.
Yorke was the captain of the Under-20 national team which won the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association Under-20 Championship in St Croix, US Virgin Islands in 2012, a team that also featured libero Rechez Lindsay.
It will be the first major senior team outing for Yorke as she replaces Lindsay, who was part of the national team which placed second to host Cuba in their FIVB Women's World Championship NORCECA Third Round qualifiers to Italy last month and will now host the Fourth Round qualifiers at Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Chaguanas, involving Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua, from June 22-30 for the lone spot to Italy
Originally, the Fourth Round qualifiers comprising all the second placed teams from the five Third Round groups were carded for June 2 to 9, however, a decision was made by the NORCECA Confederation to push back the tournament which will give the teams involve more time to prepare, mainly via the Pan Am Cup.
For this year's tournament, T&T will compete in Pool A with Canada, Peru, two-time winner Dominican Republic, Mexico and Cuba while Pool B comprises, Costa Rica, three-time winner and Olympic champions, Brazil, Colombia, USA, Argentina and Puerto Rico.
This year will mark the eight straight year T&T will be competing at the Pan Am Cup, with its best-ever finish–tenth for the past five years–after being 12th, both in 2007 and 2008.
Fixtures
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June 11: T&T vs Dominican Republic, 5pm
June 12: T&T vs Canada, 5pm
June 13: T&T vs Peru, 3pm
June 14: T&T vs Cuba, 3pm
June 15: T&T vs Mexico, 7pm
Playoffs
June 17 -19.
Team
Francisco Cruz (coach), Marisha Herbert, Sinead Jack, Darlene Ramdin, Renele Forde, Kelly-Anne Billingy (captain), Jalicia Ross-Kydd, Krystle Esdelle, Abby Blackman, Courtnee-Mae Clifford, Rheeza Grant, Channon Thompson, Makila Yorke
Officials: Francisco Cruz (coach), Nicholson Drakes (assistant coach), Brian Charles (referee)