With perennial Central America Cup Champions Costa Rica granted an automatic third-round berth, Guatemala emerge as the strongest team in the FIVB Women’s World Championship Norceca-E second round to be contested here by six teams through December 9-13. Guatemala, 49th in the FIVB world rankings, have been runners-up in the last two editions (2004 and 2006) of the Central America Cup, which has been won by the Costa Ricans in 11 of its 14 editions, including the last eight. Guatemala have been runners-up a total of eight times. Playing before their home fans, the 55th-ranked host Nicaraguans are considered a solid contender. The host team was second in the regional competitions in 2000 and 2002 and have nine top-three finishes in the history of the event. With the top three teams here receiving tickets for the following round, a tough battle for the remaining spot is expected to take place. Honduras (ranked 65th) and Panama (75th) are considered to have the better chances of advancing, but El Salvador may spring a surprise. The sixth participant Belize will do very well to make it to the podium. The top two finishers in the Norceca-E second round will move to the Norceca-F third round in Cuba (June 19-24) along with the winner of Norceca-C scheduled in Trinidad & Tobago (May 31-June 7). The third-place team will advance to Norceca-H in Dominican Republic (June 10-15) along with Mexico and the third place of Norceca-C. Competition Schedule December 9 December 10 December 11 December 12 December 13 |
