Uphill task for Jamaica

SANTO DOMINGO, CANA:

BARBADOS and Jamaica, the English-speaking Caribbean's two participants in the women's volleyball World Championship qualifying competition, can expect a rough ride from world-ranked opponents in their group.

Barbados reached the qualifying competition after winning the women's side of the Caribbean Volleyball Championships for the second straight time at last year's championship in Bridgetown.

Jamaica, runners-up at last year's CVCs, won a sub-qualifier in Aruba last month. Then they defeated Aruba in straight sets and lost to the Netherlands Antilles 2-3, but secured top spot on a superior set average after Aruba defeated Netherlands Antilles in the final game.

Starting today, Barbados and Jamaica play the Dominican Republic and Canada in World Championship qualifying Pool K, where the top two teams from this pool will play in the 2002 World Championships in Germany.

John Griffith, president of the Barbados Volleyball Association, believes the two English-speaking Caribbean teams will have it hard trying to be one of the two teams advancing from Pool K.

"It will be a challenge for the girls to get either spot, but from the Barbadian end it will be good exposure for our team ahead of the North, Central American and Caribbean Championship later in the year," he told the CANAsport radio programme.

"Our primary goal is an improved showing at the NORCECA senior women's championship in Aruba later this year. But we will seize any opportunity we get to earn a spot to the 2002 World Championships," he added.

"At the same time, however, it is very important that our national team gets as much international exposure as possible. This is an opportunity for them and the coaching staff to evaluate the team against that level of competition."

The NORCECA region has been allotted five vacancies at the World Championships. Cuba, the 1998 women's title-holder, has already directly earned their berths.

The top two from Pool K, along with the top two from Pool L that comprises Puerto Rico, United States, Mexico and Costa Rica will complete the quintuplet.

Barbados and Jamaica, however, still would have an outside chance if they finish outside of the top two positions in Pool K. The best third-place of either theirs or Pool L will enter a play-off against Venezuela, who were third in South America's Pool M.

A total of 61 teams have registered to participate in the qualification process for the Championship to be contested from August 30 to September 15 this year. By September 2, organisers expect all 22 vacancies will be filled.

The Jamaica team is Kimberley Carraha (captain), Cheryl Daley, Abiola Pereira, Dara Pereira, Nicola Mannings, Patmony Fletcher, Cheryl Robinson, Tracyann Pryce, Stephanie Clato-Day. Officials: Phillip Greenland (head coach), Leighton Cummings (assistant coach), Nicola Smith (manager).

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