Havana, September 23 (RHC) - Stars Miguel Angel Lopez, Jesus Herrera and Marlon Yant lead the volleyball team that will defend the colors of Cuba in the Pre-Olympic of that sport, scheduled from September 30 to October 8 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

This was confirmed this Saturday to Radio Habana Cuba (www.radiohc.cu) by the head of the Cuban Volleyball Federation, Ariel Sainz.

"The objectives are to seek direct qualification for Paris and to add points to the world ranking," said Sainz, although he recognizes the high level of the group, especially due to the presence of Italy, reigning world champion, and Brazil, bronze medalist.

After this month's Norceca continental tournament in Charleston, United States - bronze was won -, the team has remained at the National Volleyball School working with new DT Jesus Cruz.

"Emphasis has been placed on eradicating the faults that limit victories, with special emphasis on concentration and other psychological aspects," said Sainz, adding that the team is almost the same as the Continental, with the only inclusion of José Massó.

He assured that there are no "acute injuries" that would limit the performance of any of the 14 players, ten of them members of the 2022 World Championship squad.

The big absentee will be star player Robertlandy Simón, who has withdrawn from the team for the rest of the year to prioritize his recovery from health problems.

A total of 24 teams will compete at the same date in three Pre-Olympics to define six direct tickets to Paris-2024, two in each bracket. The venues will be Brazil, Japan and China.

Cuba, ranked 12th in the world, is in Group A of the Pre-Olympic along with world champion Italy (2nd in the RM), Brazil (4th), Iran (10th), Ukraine (16th), Germany (17th), Czech Republic (22nd) and Qatar (25th).

The top two will qualify for the Paris-2024 Games.

At the end of the 2024 Nations League, the top five teams in the world ranking that have not earned their direct tickets at the Pre-Olympics will earn their berths for Paris-2024.

Cuban team to the Pre-Olympics

Auxiliary attackers

Osniel Mergarejo (c)

Miguel Angel Lopez

Marlon Yant

José Miguel Gutiérrez

Centerbacks

Javier Concepcion

Roamy Alonso

José Massó 

Alexis Wilson

Opposites

Jesus Herrera

Miguel David Gutierrez

Passers

Christian Thondike

Lyvan Taboada

Liberos

Yonder Garcia

Alain Gorguet

Coaches

Jesús Cruz (DT)

Mario Raul Izquierdo

Manuel de Jesús Espinosa

Average age 25.5 years old

Average height 1.95m