Cuban women to start World Championships year in China
05/18/2006
Tokyo, May 18, 2006 -- Cuba's quest for a fourth women's world crown will begin on the same continent it will end -- Asia.
World champions in 1978, 1994 and 1998, Cuba will start their World Championships preparations by taking part in a four-team international tournament in China next week.
>From there they head to Europe and will play the opening match in the prestigious Montreux Volley Masters in Switzerland, against Germany on June 6. China and Russia are also in Pool A at Montreux, giving the Cubans an early look at some of their main rivals for the World Championships in Japan.
The next stop is San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the fifth Pan-American Cup, at which four places are up for grabs for the 2007 World Grand Prix.
>From July 16-23, the Cuban women will take part in the Central American and Caribbean Games in Cartagena, Colombia, and then it's back to Asia for World Grand Prix legs in Tokyo, Taipei and Ningbo, China.
Once again the team is led by the inspirational captain Yumilka Ruiz and has plenty of experience in the likes of Zoila Barros and Liana Mesa, and youthful, explosive power in Nancy Carrillo and Rosir Calderon, daughter of head coach Luis Felipe Calderon.
Cuba have been drawn with reigning world champions Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Peru and Serbia and Montenegro in Pool D, based in Nagoya.
