Mexico could be on the verge of establishing a new era in men’s volleyball with their qualification in the 2014 World Championship. This tournament will mark the nation’s fifth entry in the event, last qualifying four years ago and finishing in 13th place.

Before the 2010 tournament, it had been 28 years since the nation last competed in the World Championship, qualifying three times in succession in 1974, 1978 and 1982. Mexico’s highest finish came in their debut in 1974 when it finished in 10th place on home soil.

Mexico’s greatest achievements so far have been a silver (1955) and two bronze (1959, 1975) medals in the Pan American Games, and three silvers (1969, 1975, 1977) and two bronze (1971, 1979) at the NORCECA Championship.

But the nation heads to Poland with confidence, having qualified for their first World League competition this year where they finished third in Pool F in Group 3 and 25th overall and sixth at the Pan Am Cup in August. They finished fifth at the 2013 NORCECA Championships and fourth at the 2011 Pan American Games.