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