7MB serves up start of beach volleyball season

(CNS): The Cayman Islands Volleyball Federation will be opening the 2015 beach season with the NORCECA Continental Tour later this month. Organizers are predicting top quality action for the tournament as eight of the NORCECA countries that will compete on Seven Mile Beach have also advanced to the upcoming World Championships. Teams from the United States, Canada, Cuba, Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Puerto Rico are among the 16 countries and 32 teams competing.

Cayman will also be fielding two female teams and one male team, including the maturing Ileann Powery and Chante Smith-Johnson, who competed in the Youth Olympic Games Qualifier last year in Puerto Rico, the newly re-paired Jessica Wolfenden and Stefania Gandolfi, and the veterans Olney Thompson and Philippe Deslandes for the men. These teams, along with Richard Campbell and Shervin Reankin, will also be sharing duties on the NORCECA Continental Tour throughout the region as well as other international level competitions.

“The international recognition volleyball is bringing to the Cayman Islands as the premier tournament location is irrefutable,” organisers said. “With the backdrop of Seven Mile Beach, the venue echoes the excitement of fans watching heart-stopping volleyball right on the shoreline of the Caribbean’s Destination of the Year.”

The CIVF President, Kennedy McGowan, also pointed out the progress in local officials and referees at the international level.

“A NORCECA Referee Instructor will be on island prior to the opening of the NORCECA beach volleyball tournament. We are looking for people who may be interested in taking this course. Even if they don’t get to referee at this event we have the U19 World Championship Qualifier for beach volleyball in August and they will be certified by an official NORCECA referee instructor,” he explained.

The North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) is the continental confederation that represents 35 member countries at the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) level.  It aims to develop volleyball within each and every affiliated National Federation, like the Cayman Islands Volleyball Federation, guaranteeing that it complies with the FIVB’s Rules and Regulations.

The event is set for 24-26 April and more details are available on the CIVF website and its Facebook page.

Category: Sports, Volleyball