USA looking for third consecutive gold medal

 

ANAHEIM, California, September 13, 2007.- USA Team will be looking for a third consecutive crown in the 2007 NORCECA Men’s Continental Championship on September 16-21 at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena.

The American Men’s won the last two editions of this event held every two years, taking the gold medal in Mexico 2003 and Canada 2005. This time they should have the benefit of the home crowd support as they look for their seventh all-time title.

 

The top two finishers at the NORCECA Championship will qualify for the 2007 World Cup in Japan. The top three finishers at the World Cup will qualify for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

 

Many of the players on the roster have made key contributions to the USA Men’s success so far this season. Team USA won a bronze medal at the 2007 FIVB World League, a silver medal at the 2007 Pan American Games and a gold medal at the 2007 America’s Cup.

 

Eight teams, divided in two pools, will play a preliminary round with the winner of each pool advancing directly to the semi finals. Teams placed in second and third places will meet in the quarterfinals phase in crossed matches.

Pool A is comprised of teams from Barbados, Mexico, Puerto Rico and USA. Teams competing in Pool B are Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Trinidad & Tobago.

 

Cuba is the all-time leader of the event which started in 1969, having won it 13 times out of 19 editions. The Cubans have also four silver medals and two bronzes. The Americans have a collection of six gold medals, eight silvers and 4 bronzes.

 

Canada and Mexico are the only other medallists in the continental event. The Canadians have been four-time runner-ups with 10 third place finish, while the Mexicans show three silver medals and three bronzes.

 

This will be the fourth time that USA hosts the NORCECA championship. Mexico has organized it five times, followed by Cuba and Canada each with three. Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic have twice hosted the event and Barbados once.

 

2007 NORCECA Men’s Continental Championship Schedule (All times PDT)

Pool Play

Group A: Barbados, Mexico, Puerto Rico, United States

Sept. 16, 5:30 p.m.: Puerto Rico vs. Barbados   
Sept. 16, 8:00 p.m.: United States vs. Mexico   
Sept. 17, 5:30 p.m.: Puerto Rico vs. Mexico   
Sept. 17, 8:00 p.m.:  United States vs. Barbados   
Sept. 18, 5:30 p.m.: Mexico vs. Barbados   
Sept. 18, 8:00 p.m.: Puerto Rico vs. United States  

 

Group B: Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Trinidad & Tobago

Sept. 16, 12:30 p.m.: Cuba vs. Trinidad & Tobago     
Sept. 16,  2:30 p.m.:  Canada vs. Dominican Republic   
Sept. 17, 12:30 p.m.: Canada vs. Trinidad & Tobago   
Sept. 17,   2:30 p.m.: Cuba vs. Dominican Republic  
Sept. 18, 12:30 p.m.: Dominican Republic vs. Trinidad & Tobago   
Sept. 18,   2:30 p.m.: Canada vs. Cuba