Second Champions Cup appearance for Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, October
30, 2013 – The
Dominican Republic will be making their second appearance at the FIVB Women’s Grand Champions Cup when the competition serves off
from November 12-17 in the cities of Nagoya and Japan.
In 2009, the first year under Brazilian coach Marcos Kwiek and
as NORCECA Champions, they claimed the bronze medal for the
biggest achievement thus far of a senior Dominican Republic’s
team in an FIVB competition.
The Dominicans booked their ticket to the quadrennial event as
the world best-ranked continental vice champions with the
highest ranking at the last Olympic Games among non-qualified
teams.
The Dominican Republic team finished second at the NORCECA
Continental Championship held in Omaha, United States. They lost
to the United States in four sets (25-19, 26-24, 21-25, 25-19)
in the title’s contest.
The team consists of outside hitters Bethania De la Cruz,
Prisilla Rivera, Brayelin Martinez and Yonkaira Peña, middle
blockers Annerys Vargas, Candida Arias and Marianne Fersola and
opposites Gina Mambru and Jeoselyna Rodriguez. The setters are
Niverka Marte and Karla Echenique, the defensive specialist Ana
Binet and liberos Brenda Castillo and Winifer Fernandez.
Kwiek will be assisted by countryman Wagner Pacheco and the
Dominican Wilson Sanchez. Christian Cruz is the team manager and
Yeivic Jimenez is the statistician. Milciades Albert is the team
doctor with Cesar Villalona as therapist.
They will make an early arrival in Japan on November 2 with
their roster of 14 players for a training base in Osaka at the
facilities of Torray Arrows Club.
Currently world No. 8 in the rankings, the Dominican Republic
will play world No. 12 Thailand in the opening match of the
tournament on November 12 at 12:00 local time at Nippongaishi
Hall in Nagoya. They will face the No. 6 Russia on November 13.
After a travel day, the Dominicans meet Olympic champions and
world’s top ranked Brazil on November 15 at Tokyo Metropolitan
Gymnasium, to conclude the round-robin tournament with matches
against hosts Japan (No. 3) and United States (No. 2).
Besides their silver medal at NORCECA Continental Tournament,
the Dominican team also finished second to the USA team at the
Women’s Pan American Cup held in Peru. They also took the bronze
medal at the Montreux Volley Masters and at the Boris Yeltsin
Cup.
In this year’s FIVB World Grand Prix, the Dominican Republic
concluded with an overall win-loss record of 6-3 good for 10th
place among 20 participating teams. They twice defeated Puerto
Rico while scoring single victories over Czech Republic,
Bulgaria, Italy and Algeria.
“We have had a very good year in 2013 with the addition of
players from the junior ranks who are solidifying the structure
of our team,” Kwiek said. “Now we are optimistic about our
chances of a top-three position at the Grand Champions Cup which
will be a good way to cap the year.”
Japan has hosted every edition of the FIVB Women’s Grand
Champions Cup, since its inception in 1993.
Unlike the men’s competition, the FIVB Women’s World Grand
Champions Cup has had a different winner for each of its five
previous editions. Cuba won the inaugural event in 1993,
followed by Russia (1997), China (2001), Brazil (2005) and Italy
(2009).
The historical podium positions are as follows:
Year Gold Silver Bronze
1993 CUB CHN
RUS
1997 RUS CUB BRA
2001 CHN RUS JPN
2005 BRA USA CHN
2009 ITA BRA DOM |