Dominican Republic to defend title as Norceca U20 Champions 
 

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, July 1, 2014 – The NORCECA Women’s U20 Continental Championship will take place in the capital of Guatemala from July 8-13 with nine squads battling for the regional supremacy and two tickets available to next year’s FIVB World Championship of the age group.

Defending champions Dominican Republic lead Pool A along with Cuba and Nicaragua while hosts Guatemala join Costa Rica and Martinique as teams competing in Pool B. Five-time monarchs United States, Mexico and St Lucia will play in Pool C.

The Teodoro Palacios Flores National Gymansium, located in the centre of Guatemala City, is the official competition venue, with the training courts at the Alfonso Gordillo Volleyball Complex.

The two pool winners with the highest ranking at the end of the preliminary round advance directly to the semifinal round while the pool winner with the lowest ranking will join the second placed teams in the quarterfinals phase. The third place sides will compete for the 7-9 positions.

In the last edition of the tournament held in Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic snapped the streak of four consecutive titles won by United States with a 25-19, 25-21, 24-26, 25-11 victory over Mexico in the final match at Polideportivo España of Managua.

United States captured the bronze medal and the third and last ticket to the FIVB World Championship after a 25-18, 25-14, 25-22 victory over Costa Rica.

Teams are scheduled to arrive in Guatemala on July 6, with the members of the NORCECA Control Committee one day earlier. The General Technical Meeting will take place on July 7.

Three daily matches will be played with opening day featuring Mexico v St Lucia, Cuba v Nicaragua and Martinique v Guatemala.

Preliminary Round Calendar

July 8

4:00     St Lucia v Mexico

6:00     Cuba v Nicaragua

8:00     Martinique v Guatemala

July 9

4:00     Nicaragua v Dominican Republic

6:00     Costa Rica v Martinique

8:00     United States v St Lucia

July 10

4:00     Dominican Republic v Cuba

6:00     Mexico v United States

8:00     Guatemala v Costa Rica

Historical Podiums

Year                Gold                Silver              Bronze

1998                 USA                  MEX                 CAN

2000                 CUB                 USA                  MEX

2002                 PUR                  USA                  CUB

2004                 USA                  DOM                 PUR

2006                 USA                  DOM                 PUR

2008                 USA                  DOM                 CUB

2010                 USA                  DOM                 CUB

2012                 DOM                 MEX                 USA