Puerto Rico are making their sixth appearance at the World Grand Prix as they look to improve on their third place in Group 2 last year. After finishing second in the Intercontinental Round behind the Netherlands with seven wins from nine, they lost their semifinal to the Dutch before defeating Poland in the third-place match in straight sets. In the 2013 edition they took 18th place and in their three outings before that they came 10th in 2009, 11th in 2010 and 13th in 2012.
Vital experience and know-how is being gathered by competing regularly against elite sides in the World Grand Prix and at the World Championship, in which they have appeared four times since 2002, when they made their best finish of equal-10th. At last year’s edition in Italy the Central American side won one match, against Cuba, as they missed out on second round qualification by three points. They have enjoyed better results in continental competitions. They finished third at the 2009 and 2014 Pan American Cups. They also finished fifth at the 2011 Pan American Games in Mexico and will compete in this year’s edition in Toronto, Canada. They took the silver medal at the 2009 NORCECA Championships, came fourth in 2011 and claimed bronze last time round.