MIAMI, Florida, June 25, 2009.- Defending
champions Dominican Republic play Argentina in
the first match of Pool B of the Eighth Women’s
Volleyball Pan American Cup at Florida
International University, while hosts USA meet
Costa Rica in Pool A at University of Miami on
Friday.
Three-time runner-ups in the history of the
intercontinental competition and also winners of
three bronze medals, the Dominican squad won its
first gold medal prevailing in a five-set battle
with Brazil last year in Baja California,
Mexico.
In their attempt to revalidate the crown, the
Dominicans, currently No. 13 in the world by
FIVB, will be facing the tough competition from
Brazil (1) and USA (2), the two finalists of
Beijing Olympics last year.
The Pan American Cup is a qualifier to the
following year FIVB World Grand Prix. The top
three teams from Norceca Confederation and the
top team from South America book tickets to the
women’s annual premier event of FIVB.
The teams competing in Pool A are USA, Peru
(17), Puerto Rico (19), Mexico (26), Costa Rica
(30) and Guatemala (48). The teams in Pool B are
Dominican Republic, Brazil (1), Canada (23),
Argentina (31) and Trinidad & Tobago (53).
The winners of each pool will advance
automatically to the semi final round and the
teams of second and third place will meet in
crossed matches in the quarter finals. The medal
matches will take place on Sunday 4 of July at
University of Miami.
Here is the historical podium of the Women’s Pan
American Cup:
2002 Cuba, Dominican Republic, United States
2003 United States, Dominican Republic, Cuba
2004 Cuba, United States, Dominican Republic
2005 Cuba, Dominican Republic, Brazil
2006 Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic
2007 Cuba, Brazil, Dominican Republic
2008 Dominican Republic, Brazil, Argentina
Schedule of Preliminary round
Pool A
June 26
PUR vs GUA
PER vs. MEX
USA vs. CRC
June 27
CRC vs. PER
MEX vs. PUR
GUA vs. USA
June 28
CRC vs. GUA
PUR vs. PER
USA vs. MEX
June 29
MEX vs. GUA
CRC vs. PUR
PER vs. USA
June 30
GUA vs. PER
MEX vs. CRC
USA vs. PUR
Pool B
June 26
DOM vs. ARG
BRA vs. CAN
June 27
ARG vs. TRI
CAN vs. DOM
June 28
TRI vs. DOM
BRA vs. ARG
June 29
TRI vs. BRA
ARG vs. CAN
June 30
CAN vs. TRI
BRA vs. DOM |