Former European-based spiker Darlene Ramdin will lead an inexperienced 12-member T&T women's squad when they open their medal quest versus Mexico in Pool B at the 18th Pan American Volleyball Cup at the Cerrado Coliseum in Chiclayo, Peru, on Saturday from 4 pm.
The 11-team competition marks the beginning of the qualification process for the 2023 Pan-American Games and this time it has the participation of 11 delegations.
In addition to Ramdin, who has been a member of the senior team for over a decade, the other senior player on the team is libero Afesha Olton-Humphreys, while the quintet of Kaylon Cruickshank, Hannah Floyd, Afiya Alexander and Kiune Alexander have all had the experiences of playing at this level in the past but not on a regular basis.
The team is being coached by the returning Cuban-born Francisco “Panchee” Cruz,
Following today's encounter, the “Calypso Spikers,” who won the Senior Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Women’s Championship title for an unprecedented eighth time and seventh in succession last year in Suriname, will meet defending champions and record six-time winners USA on July 7, Puerto Rico on July 8 and Colombia on July 9, all from 5 pm.
Host Peru faces Dominican Republic, Argentina, Canada, Cuba and Guatemala in Pool A in the Great Chimú Coliseum of Trujillo.
Jimenez is making a return to the coaching staff, after being at the helm of the “Calypso Spikers” for nearly a decade, after taking time off for the FIVB Developmental Coaching Programme. His stint included leading the T&T team to seven straight CAZOVA titles, as well as debut participation at the FIVB World Grand Prix and FIVB Women’s Championship before stepping down at the end of last year.
Notable absentees for T&T include captain Krystle Esdelle, Renele Forde, Sinead Jack, Channon Thompson, Kelly-Ann Billing, Jalicia Kydd and Taija Thomas, who were all part of last year’s team which competed in the Dominican Republic.
The pool winners will get direct tickets to the semi-final round while the second and third-placed teams of each pool will meet in crossed matches in the quarter-finals. The other teams will play for the seven to 11 positions.
TEAM
Darlene Ramdin, Afesha Olton, Kaylon Cruickshank, Rayquelle Dickson, Hannah Floyd, Shenelle Jordan, Afiya Alexander, Danielle Noel, Destiny Leon, Kiune Fletcher, Sheri Thackoorcharan, Shernice De Four.
Technical staff: Franciso “Panchee” Cruz Jimenez (head coach), Aaron Pollard (manager), Brian Charles (referee).