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TULSA, Oklahoma, USA, July 17, 2022 – Eight
teams are in the central United States this week
for the Girls U19 Pan American Cup on July 18-23
at the Cox Business Convention Center in Tulsa.
Six NORCECA countries – Canada, Costa Rica,
Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the
United States – are battling for three berths in
the 2023 FIVB Girls U19 World Championship. Two
South American countries – Brazil and Peru – are
using the tournament to prepare for their own
championship in a few weeks.
Most players at the tournament will be competing
for their country for the first time.
Coaches and representatives from the eight teams
gave their thoughts about the upcoming six-day
tournament.
Brazil Team Manager Jose Caetano
“We are here to prepare our team because next
month we have the South American championship.
We have to think about the next year and the
world championship. We have been training one
and a half months and we played three matches
against a professional team in Brazil to prepare
our girls before coming here. We hope we can do
well in the competition.”
Canada Head Coach Christine Biggs
“We’re very excited to be bringing this young
group to the Pan American Cup. For many, it is
their first international experience. With three
NORCECA berths on the line for World
Championships, this tournament is very
important. We’re excited about the progress
we’ve made leading into the event. We’re excited
to see the team grow and compete in this
environment.”
Costa Rica Head Coach Kareem Richards
“It’s a pleasure and an honor to be here at the
Pan American Cup. We know that it is a really
difficult tournament, we are in a complicated
group, nevertheless, we are here with all our
energy to do the best tournament possible. We
will go one point at a time to reach our goals,
which are clear, gain the most experience
possible and learn from the best teams here; we
will put our best effort. I want to thank the
organizing committee; they have surpassed our
expectations.”
Mexico Head Coach Luis Bañuelo
“We are glad to be here at the Pan American Cup.
It’s a new experience for most of the teams, for
most of the girls representing Mexico. We are
glad to participate and reach the best result
that can qualify us to the World Championship,
we have worked for it, and we are confident to
reach the result we have set.”
Peru Head Coach Walter Lung
“For many of the players, it is the first time
competing internationally. We are coming here to
prepare this team for the South American
championship. I hope that the team will give its
best performance.”
Dominican Republic Head Coach Wagner Picheco
“We have a young team with 60 percent playing a
tournament for the first time, for many of them
an official tournament, but we hope to perform
our best to reach one objective that is a berth
to Worlds and after that maybe win a medal to
climax two years of work”.
Puerto Rico Head Coach Juan Carlos Rodriguez
“Puerto Rico is a team with good height. For
several players this will be their first major
tournament. The goal is to qualify to the World
Championship, and we hope for the girls to make
their job and that they focus in what each one
has to do.”
USA Head Coach Jamie Morrison
“We
are excited to see the next generation of
athletes from across the NORCECA and South
American zones represent their countries and
compete against each other. For a lot of
athletes, this might be the first time
representing their country and that’s a special
thing. We are looking forward to competing
against the best and learning in the process.”
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