The XII Women’s Volleyball Pan American Cup will take place in the Peruvian cities of Lima and Iquitos from June 5-16.

The official announcement was made by NORCECA Sport Events Department and it marks the first time that a South American country will be hosting the intercontinental event, a qualifying competition to the FIVB World Grand Prix of the following year.

According to the International Volleyball Federation, Mexico has organised the competition a total of eight times while the event has taken place once in Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and United States.

Defending champions United States, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic Mexico, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago and hosts Peru are the teams registered for the twelve-team event.

Cuba, with four titles, tops the list as the most successful country in the annual competition followed by Brazil with three crowns and United States and Dominican Republic each with two. The Dominican Republic leads in total medals with ten.

Last year, in Ciudad Juarez for second year in a row, USA bounced back from a 0-2 deficit to defeat Brazil (28-30, 18-25, 25-22, 25-21, 15-11) for the gold medal. The bronze went to Cuba following a five-set (25-21, 28-26, 23-25, 18-25, 15-12) victory over Dominican Republic.