TT to meet USA, Russia at Volleyball World Cup

SHERDON PIERRE

The Trinidadt and Tobago women’s volleyball team were drawn in Pool C against defending champions and world number two USA , as well as fifth ranked Russia, in the 2018 Japan FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship to be held from September 29 to October 20.

The remainder of teams in Group C are South Korea (10th), Thailand (16th) and Azerbaijan (24th).

The quadrennial competition will feature five teams from Asia, two from Africa, eight from Europe, two from South America and seven from the North, Central America and Caribbean Confederation. The 24 teams have been divided into four pools of six teams playing in a round-robin system with the top four teams in each pool advancing to the second round. Then, the 16 teams in the second round will be split into two pools of eight (the top teams from Pools A and D in one group, and the top teams from Pools C and B in the other).

Commenting on the draw, the current captain of the 34th ranked “Calypso Spikers”, Krystle Esdelle, said, “I think the group is a huge challenge for us. All of the teams in our group played world volleyball except us. For us to be able to compete we are going to need a lot of things like camps and staff members.”

She continued, “We have an opportunity to show the volleyball world what our little island has to offer. Qualification for the next round is difficult to predict at this point in time but once we are prepared anything can happen.”

TT booked their spot in October for their maiden World Championships after earning second spot behind Mexico in the NORCECA Continental Women’s Pool C Qualifiers that was held at the National Cycling Centre, Couva.

FIVB Volleyball Women`s World Championship Japan 2018 first round draw are as follows:

Pool A: Japan, Netherlands, Argentina, Germany, Cameroon, Mexico.

Pool B: China, Italy, Turkey, Bulgaria, Canada, Cuba.

Pool C: USA, Russia, Korea, Thailand, Azerbaijan, Trinidad and Tobago.

Pool D: Serbia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Kazakhstan, Kenya.