2006 World Championships   More World Championship news       Tournament info: Puerto Rico

USA women travel to Puerto Rico for World Championship second round tournament

Colorado, USA, August 12, 2005 – The USA women’s national Volleyball team departed Thursday morning for Caguas, Puerto Rico, to compete in the FIVB Women’s World Championship second round tournament (NORCECA D), which runs from Aug. 13-19.

The top three finishers in the tournament featuring Barbados, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United States will advance to the 2006 World Championships as members of the NORCECA zone.

While the tournament begins on Aug. 13, Team USA does not begin competition until Sunday, Aug. 14, when it takes on Barbados. The Americans will then conclude pool play with matches against Mexico (Aug. 15), Canada (Aug. 16) and Puerto Rico (Aug. 17). The top four teams at the conclusion of pool play advance to the tournament semifinals on Aug. 18.

Five other teams – Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Jamaica – will vie for three additional NORCECA slots for the World Championships at the “NORCECA E” World Championship second round tournament in Santo Domingo from Aug. 24-28.

In all, 24 teams will compete at the 2006 World Championships from Nov. 16-Dec. 3 – seven from Europe, six from NORCECA, four from Asia, three from Africa, two from South America, the host team (Japan) and the 2002 champion (Italy).

At the 2002 World Championships in Germany, the United States earned a silver medal with a 10-1 record. The Americans’ only loss came in five sets to Italy.

Overall this season the USA Women have a record of 11-13. The Americans have not competed since July 10, when they lost to Poland (3-1) and finished in eighth place at the World Grand Prix.

Team USA’s roster for the WCQT includes: setters Lindsey Berg and Toni Anderson; middle blockers Elisabeth Bachman, Jennifer Joines and Danielle Scott; outside hitters Patrice Arrington, Therese Crawford and Katie Wilkins; opposites Tayyiba Haneef and Nancy Metcalf and liberos Nicole Davis and Sarah Drury.