Havana, June 15 (Jit).- Cuba's top teams have been confirmed for the volleyball tournament of the XXIV Central American and Caribbean Games of San Salvador 2023, which opens next June 23 and will run until July 8.
The men are participating in the 2023 Volleyball Nations League and the women are playing a friendly match against Argentina, which has dominated in the last two matches after the Caribbean women started victorious on June 10.
The men's team is made up of corner attackers Miguel Angel Lopez, Osniel Mergarejo, Marlos Yant and Jose Miguel Gutierrez, as well as opposites Jesus Herrera and Miguel David Gutierrez.
Javier Concepción, Israel Massó and Endriel Pedroso are the middle blockers; Lyván Taboada, Adrián Goide and Christian Thondike are the setters; and Yonder García and Alain Gorguet are the liberos.
Absent due to injuries will be middle blockers Robertlandy Simón, Roamy Alonso and Liván Osoria, confirmed technical director Nicolás Vives, who is accompanied by assistant coach Yosvany Muñoz; doctor Ramsés Raymond; physiotherapist Pedro Roche and the national commissioner of this sport, Jorge Sosa, in charge of the delegation.
In the women's sector, of the 15 girls on tour in Argentina, 12 will travel to San Salvador 2023. The complete roster is made up of attackers Ailama Cesé, Diaris Pérez, Sulian Matienzo, Whitney James and Claudia Tarín, and opposing players Dezirett Madan and Yalain Regla de la Peña.
Completing the group are middle blockers Laura Suarez, Dayana Martinez, Jessica Aguilera and Yensy Kindelan; passers Gretell Moreno and Thalia Moreno; and liberos Ivy May and Ellemay Miranda; DT Tomas Fernandez; assistant coach Leivi Garcia and doctor Rosy Mery Ibarola.
In Barranquilla 2018, Puerto Rico led the standings in the men's event and won bronze in the women's event. The men were followed by Colombia and Mexico.
For third place, the Mexicans defeated the favored Cuban team in five sets (22-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-22, 15-8) in two hours and 20 minutes of play.
The Dominican Republic dominated among the ladies. The silver and bronze medals were won by Colombia and Puerto Rico, respectively. Cuba placed seventh in the worst performance in its history in these events.
