OLYMPIC CALIBRE VOLLEYBALL AT PEPS

Université Laval, February 2, 2023 – Université Laval’s Services des activités sportives (SAS) and the Rouge et Or volleyball club are honoured and excited to welcome the 2023 NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship, August 29 to September 3, 2023, at the PEPS’ Amphithéatre Desjardins-Université Laval.

During this six-day competition, eight women's national teams, including Canada and the defending Olympic champions, the United States, will face each other in preparation for the Olympic qualifications for the Paris 2024 Games.

"We are delighted to host such a prestigious event here. Bringing together the best female volleyball players in North America, Central America and the Caribbean under one roof is a challenge that we are certainly ready to take on,” says Julie Dionne, Athletic Director at Université Laval. Volleyball Canada was awarded the tournament and turned to SAS to make it happen. “I would like to thank Volleyball Canada for its trust. Rest assured that we will meet all your expectations, and those of the participants. I have no doubt that this event will be a huge success because we have the best crowds in Quebec City for volleyball competitions and because we will be able to put our own Université Laval signature on it," she adds.

"Every time we host an event in Canada it is very special for the team because we get to play the best teams in NORCECA in front of our family and friends at home. These are events you remember, says Canadian Women's Volleyball Head Coach Shannon Winzer. After the NORCECA championships, we’ll be heading to the Olympic qualifiers in September and, like the other teams, the event in Quebec City will be an important part of our preparation for that qualifier," she explains.

Émile Lapierre, chair of the Rouge et Or volleyball club's board of directors, is also excited to see this international event come to Quebec City. "It's a great opportunity to showcase high-level women’s sports, which doesn't happen often enough, and we're delighted to be able to do it at Université Laval! The event will highlight the quality of the PEPS infrastructure and the expertise of the SAS and the Rouge et Or Volleyball Club in organizing international events.

A very high-level event

The full field of competitors will be confirmed at a later date, but the quality of the teams is sure to be impressive. The United States, Olympic gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, are ranked fourth in the latest FIVB world rankings, while Canada is ranked 14th. Among the teams already slated to compete in Quebec City next fall are the Dominican Republic (9th), Puerto Rico (17th), Mexico City (20th), Cuba (28th), Trinidad and Tobago (Caribbean Champions) and Costa Rica (Central American Champions).

The first three days of the competition will be devoted to the preliminary round, featuring two pools with a round-robin format. The final three days will be devoted to the elimination round, including the quarterfinals, semi-finals and finally, on the last day of competition, the bronze and gold medal matches.

Volleyball fans can expect ticket sales to kick off with a pre-sale for full access passes to the tournament.

Contacts:

Mathieu Tanguay
Communications Officer – Rouge et Or
Service des activités sportives – Université Laval
Cell.: 418-569-9778 | mathieu.tanguay@sas.ulaval.ca

Volleyball Canada Media Contact:
Jackie Skender
Email: jskender@volleyball.ca
Mobile: 613-794-7676