Rosa, Puerto Rican National Team Set for Pan Am Cup

Former FIU volleyball standout and Sun Belt Conference Female Student-Athlete of the Year Yarimar Rosa continues to compete professionally for her home country of Puerto Rico, as she is competing with the Puerto Rican National Team at the 2011 Pan Am Games in Mexico. The four-time All-American outside hitter is a member of the professional team, Criollas de Caguas.

The X Women’s Pan American Cup, a 12-team qualifier for next year’s FIVB World Grand Prix, opened on July 1 at two different venues in Ciudad Juarez in Chihuahua, Mexico. The event runs through July 9.

Defending champion Dominican Republic, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Cuba and host Mexico will compete in Pool A, while Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago and United States will play in Pool B. Puerto Rico and Rosa will first go up against Costa Rica.

The top four teams of NORCECA and the top two teams from South America, in addition to Brazil, will earn a spot in the 2012 World Grand Prix, the premier women’s annual volleyball competition.

Panther volleyball has been well represented on the court across the world this summer as a pair of former student-athletes, including Rosa, and two current squad members have been heavily involved with their respective national teams.

Former FIU All-American setter Natalia Valentin is also a member of the Puerto Rican National Team, as she competes at the professional level with Leonas de Ponce in her home country. In addition, redshirt junior Renele Forde has been practicing with the Trinidadian National Team and junior Marija Prsa traveled with the Croatian National Team to the Friendly Games in France.

“To see FIU volleyball being represented across the world, at the professional and national levels, is a great thing and a huge accomplishment for FIU and our program,” said Head Coach Danijela Tomic, who will enter her seventh season at the helm of the Panther volleyball squad this fall. “Competing alongside players at the highest level gives our student-athletes invaluable experience. For the former players, they continue to improve and are developing into fine young women while having the opportunity to continue their volleyball careers. For our current student-athletes, the experiences they bring back to Miami have a direct, positive influence on their teammates and the FIU volleyball program.”