The overseas quintet of Sinead Jack, Channon Thompson, Darlene Ramdin, Krystle Esdelle and newcomer Delicia Pierre were all included when senior national women’s volleyball coach Francisco “Panchee” Cruz named his 12-member team for the 16th Movistar Women’s Pan American Volleyball Cup in Peru from June 17 to 25, today.
The Cuban-born Cruz, who has overseen the steady growth and world rankings climb of the “Calypso Spikers” squad over the past seven years selected his squad prior to a penultimate training session on home soil at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo and a practice match with Technocrats men’s team on Saturday ahead of another training session on Monday and then departure on Tuesday afternoon from 5.40pm via Panama on Copa Airlines to Lima, Peru.
The duo of Jack and Ramdin are coming off of seasons in Turkey while Thompson competed in France, former captain Esdelle in Greece and Pierre, campaigned in Poland, her first full professional season.
In Lima, T&T will compete in Pool A and will face four-time winner and defending champions Dominican Republic in its opener on June 17 ahead of other pool matches against Canada (June 18), Peru (June 19), Chile (June 20), and Cuba, also a four-time champion on June 21 at Eduardo Dibos Coliseum of Lima.
Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, USA, the other four-time golden girls and Venezuela will play in Pool B at Lolo Fernández Coliseum of Cañete.
At the end of the round-robin phase the cross-over knockout and playoffs for position will take place from Friday June 23 until the final day of competition on Sunday June 25.
At the end of the group round-robin phase of the tournament, the top team in each pool will advance straight to the semifinals while the teams placed second and third will meet in cross-over quarterfinals encounters to determine the other qualifiers for the final-four.
Commenting on the pool draw, Cruz was quick to admit it was a very tough grouping for his team, but one where they are happy to accept teh challenges of the teams who are regulars competitors at the World Grand Prix second level.
“We know what we are up against and our main aim in the round-robin stage will be to avoid the cellar-position which would put us ina better chance in the cross-over playoff stage to compete for a top five NORCECA team finish and a spot at the next World Grand Prix.
With regards to team preparations, Cruz lauded the efforts of the T&T Volleyball Federation, Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and Sports Compnay of T&T (SporTT) for making the training facilities at the National Cycling Centre in Couva available.
“Last time when we went to the Pan American Cup we only had seven full days of training, now we have been preparaing for the past three months, training sometimes twice a day and three hours per session.
“This puts us in a better situation as a team going into a top level competition and overall I’m very satisfied because the players have all improved and we are ready to compete in Peru”, added Cruz.
Team manager, Susa Pierre added, “This grouping for Pan American Cup will us a chance to show how much they have improved over the last year.
“Our opponents will all start as favorites, but we are confident that we can be very competitive and perhaps pull off one or two surprise results.
“We know we will have a tough task on our hand and I think our real battle will come in the cross-over qualification matches where places will be up for grabs for the next FIVB World Grand Prix for teams from NORCECA”, ended Pierre.
The allotment of South American teams (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, host Peru and Venezuela) will be historic in that its the first time in the history of the Women’s Volleyball Pan American Cup five teams from the continent will take part in the intercontinental competition.
Last week it was confirmed by officials of the T&T Volleyball Federation that the Renele Forde-captained team’s expenses for the tournament to the tune of $153,000-plus to cover air-fare have been met while accommodation, meals and ground transport are all covered by the host country of the competition in conduction with NORCECA.
Last year, when the tournament was held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the “Calypso Spikers” ended in tenth spot from 12 teams, to equal their best ever finishes from 2009-2013.
The T&T women were 12th on debut in 2007 as well as 2008 and 11th in 2014.