This country’s senior men’s volleyball squad has been drawn in a tough four-team pool for the Seventh Men’s Pan American Cup carded for Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from July 16 to 21. When the draw was made earlier this week, T&T ranked 33rd in the world and coming off at impressive showing at the Norceca Olympic Qualifiers in Long Beach, California in May where it placed seventh was grouped with Argentina, Canada and Dominican Republic. The Argentines are the highest world ranked team in the group at eighth, while Canada is 18th and Dominican Republic, 43rd. Four-time champion and reigning Olympic gold medal winners’ USA, currently ranked sixth in the world faces top ranked team and defending champion Brazil, Venezuela (No 16) and Mexico (No 23) in Pool B.

T&T will be making its fourth appearance at the Pan Am Cup, having finished in sixth spot in its three previous appearances (2006-2008). USA is the most successful team in the tournament having won four times (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010), while Mexico was the other winner in 2007. On completion of the one-week competition, the national men’s team will journey straight to St Croix, US Virgin Islands where it will defend its Senior Caribbean Championship crown from July 16 to 21. T&T under the guidance of coach Gideon Dickson and captain, Nolan Tash, his brother won the title last year for the first time in Suriname.

Seventh Men’s Pan American Volleyball Cup
Venue: Santo Domingo, Dom Republic July 7-15:

Pool A
July 9
Argentina vs Canada, 1pm
Dominican Republic
vs T&T, 7pm

July 10
Argentina vs
T&T, 1pm
Dominican Republic
vs Canada, 7pm
July 11
Canada vs T&T, 3pm
Dominican Republic
vs Argentina, 7pm

Pool B
July 9
Brazil vs Mexico, 3pm
USA vs Venezuela, 5pm

July 10
USA vs Mexico, 3pm
Brazil vs Venezuela, 5pm

July 11
Venezuela vs Mexico, 1pm
Brazil vs USA, 5pm

July 12
Quarterfinals:
2nd B vs 3rd A
2nd A vs 3rd B

July 13
Classification Fifth to Eighth
Semifinals

July 14
Classification Seventh to Eighth
Classification Fifth to Sixth
Third place
Final

-Nigel Simon

Source: www.guardian.co.tt