T&T’s senior women’s volleyball team was expected to meet host Mexico for ninth spot at the tenth Pan American Women’s Cup at the Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez Pavilion, Chihuahua, yesterday.
This after both teams were beaten in their respective seventh to tenth semifinal matches at the same venue on Thursday night. In the penultimate match of the afternoon, Canada stayed in contention for a fifth spot after defeating T&T 25–15, 25–19, 25–17. The Canadians took early control of the match against a T&T line-up which was without France-based captain, Krystle Esdelle who could not play because of stomach pains. Esdelle’s absence was a major blow for T&T after she led the team with 20 points, the night before in a win over Costa Rica.
Without her presence, Canada dominated with Sarah Pavan getting 14 points, nine of them blocks, and Kyla Richey with 11. For T&T, vice-captain, Kelly-Anne Billingy, who also had a good outing against Costa Rica topped with 13 points. Speaking after the match Billingy, who led the team in the regular captain’s absence said, “We had to do some adjusting to cope with the loss of Krystle but we did well and we will be hoping to finish on a high when we meet Mexico. Despite the defeat, T&T coach Francisco “Panchee” Cruz said his players responded well with the new line-up. “The scores weren’t that bad, and we will continue working as our players are young and four girls are in development,” ended the Cuban-born Cruz.
In the other seventh to tenth semifinal, Peru silenced the home crowd with a 25–23, 26–24, 25–22 over Mexico to set up a fifth to eight spot semifinal meeting with Argentina. Canada faces Puerto Rico in the other. In the main draw semifinals, second-ranked USA earned a ticket to next year’s FIVB World Grand Prix following its 25–13, 25–14, 25–19 victory over Argentina at the Colegio de Bachilleres Gymnasium.
The Americans were scheduled to meet the defending champion, Dominican Republic in its semifinal last night. Four-time tournament winner, Cuba booked a semifinal clash with world number one, Brazil after a 26–24, 25–19, 25–14 win victory over Puerto Rico. In the day’s first match, Costa Rica finished in the 11th place by defeating Chile 25–16, 25–20, 25–17. The tournament ends today.