Caribbean Women Olympic Beach Volleyball Qualifier Served of in Style
The Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Women Beach Olympic Qualifier served off amidst a colourful environment of electronic advertising boards, feather banners swaying in the gentle breeze, clear blue skies and beautifully ladies sparing no effort as the dive about in the sand at Ocho Rios Bay Beach to win every possible point for their countries. 48 athletic and attractively dressed women comprising 24 teams, two from each of the 12 countries donned their national colours as they competed in search of one of six qualification spots to the next round of the qualifiers.
Home team Jamaica (JAM) has no issues getting pass Guadeloupe (GDP), in front of enthusiastic Jamaican supporters. JAM A, comprised of Kai Wright and Florida-based Daniele Perry, scored a 21-6; 21-2 victory over GDP B. JAM B, comprised of Sashalee Wallen and Canada-based Alicia Malcolm, won comfortably. In other matches, Curacoa (Cur) A def Martinique (MQE) B 21-15, 21-15; CUR B def MQE A 22-20, 17-21, 15-13; Suriname (SUR) A def US Virgin Island (ISV) B 21-19, 21-16; SUR B def ISV A 21-17, 21-14; GDP A def Aurba (ARU) B 21-18, 23-12; GDP B def ARU A 21-12, 21-15; Haiti (HAI) A def Bahamas (BAH) B 21-12, 22-24, 15-4; HAI B def BAH A 21-12, 21-10; Barbados (BAR) A def CUR B 21-13, 21-15; BAR B def CUR A 21-18, 21-9; Cayman (CAY) def Sur B 21-7, 21-8; SUR A def CAY B 21-19; 21-17; in the Golden Set (tiebreaker) CAY A def SUR A 15-13. and Trinidad and Tobago (TTO) A def HAI B 21-12, 21-17. and TTO B def HAI 21-11, 21-17.
Major Warrenton Dixon, who is President of the tournament Control Committee appointed by NORCECA Volleyball Confederation, brought greetings on behalf of NORCECA’s President, Cristobal Marte Hofiz. Dixon commended JaVA for accepting the challenge of hosting the qualifier after NORCECA and CAZOVA tried for several months to find a host without success. “Based on my observation and the discussions among the Control Committee, you have put together a very well organized tournament in only six weeks,” Dixon told the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) during the Technical Meeting yesterday. His pronouncement was supported by Tournament Director, Arnaldo Sanchez, who also spearheads the much vaunted NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour. “This is a superb tournament from an organizational standpoint,” the Puerto Rican, Sanchez, told the Jamaica Volleyball Association (JaVA) President, Rudolph Speed. “I am very interested in hosting legs in the NORCECA Beach Tour here; just say when,” Sanchez continued.
Matches resumes on Saturday 02 May 2015 with elimination matches beginning at 9am. The semi-finals and finals will be played on Sunday and followed by an After-Party hosted jointly by JaVA and tournament radio partner IRIE FM.