Mixed Division Matches

• Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) beat National Water Commission (NWC) 2-0 (21-6, 21-15 score line)
• BOJ beat University of the West Indies (UWI) 2-0 (21-20, 21-10 score line)
• AMECO beat Guardian Life 2-1 (15-21, 21-14, 21-11 score line)
• NWC beat UWI 2-1 (21-19, 10-21, 21-17 score line)
• UWI beat AMECO 2-0 (21-7, 21-11 score line)

Current Mixed Division Points Standings
BOJ 12 points
Guardian Life 7 points
AMECO 6 points
NWC 6 points
UWI 5 points

Male Division Matches

• Guardian Life beat AMECO 2-0 (21-16, 21-15 score line)
• Guardian Life beat NWC 2-0, (21-18, 21-19 score line)

Current Male Division Points Standings
Guardian Life 8 points
BOJ 6 points
NWC 5 points
AMECO 5 points

The competition is reportedly set to become even more exciting in the coming weeks, a new skills challenge element will be introduced to this year’s competition. Each team will submit three male and three female players, who will then showcase their individual skills in various challenges such as digging, serving and volleying. The players will be vying for a spot in the final of the skills competition which is set to happen on the final day of the season.

In a recent interview, President of the association Major Warrenton Dixon stated that the primary/prep programme is a part of the organization’s “short-term objectives … as we believe it is one of the fundamental steps toward our long-term goal of qualifying for all major international tournaments“.

Major Dixon noted that the association was also moving on an offer that was made by Cristóbal Marte Hoffiz (President of the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORECA)) earlier this year, offering Jamaica a national volleyball court if it finds a site. According to Major Dixon, “A space was identified at IPL (Independence Park Limited) but it needs to be cleared and prepared with a hard surface … The estimate of expenditure is approximately 1$m, which we are trying to source through the SDF (Sports Development Fund). The allocation has not yet been confirmed.“

Mixed Division Matches

• Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) beat Guardian Life 2-0 (21-6, 21-12)
• BOJ beat National Water Commission (NWC) 2-0 (21-15, 21-9)
• Guardian Life beat NWC 2-0 (21-17, 21-14)
• Guardian Life beat Ameco 2-1 (18-21, 21-11, 21-17)

Male Division Matches

• BOJ beat AMECO 2-0 (21-12, 21-13)
• BOJ beat NWC 2-0 (21-11, 21-8)
• NWC beat Guardian Life 2-0 (21-20, 21-16)
• AMECO beat Guardian Life 2-1 (21-17, 10-21, 21-19)

Notably, defending champions the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) will not be available to take part in this year’s competition due to the unavailability of their players (as a result of the state of emergency and the increased role of the JDF in the crack down on crime in parts of the island). This year’s competition has also seen one rule change, with teams only being able to feature a single national player each.

Action continues this Sunday, June 13.

In other results yesterday:
Wolmer’s Boys beat Knox College 3-1
St. Jago beat Camperdown 3-1
Mannings beat Campion College 3-0

The Girls quarter-finals continue this afternoon with four more matches. Wolmer’s Girls’ vs. Camperdown at Wolmer’s, Old Harbour vs. Muschette at Old Harbour, St. Jago vs. Knox at St Jago, and Alpha vs. Mannings at Alpha. All matches start at 2:00 p.m.

Other results yesterday:
Camperdown beat Muschette High 3-1
St. Jago beat Alpha High 3-2

The boys’ quarter-finals begins today with four matches - Wolmer’s vs. Knox at Wolmer’s, Mannings vs. Campion College at Mannings, St. Jago vs. Camperdown High and Old Harbour vs. Muschette.

Team entry forms are now available and should be completed and returned to the MOSA Volleyball Club on or before September 28 … along with the requested deposit …. on Mondays or Wednesdays (5:30 p.m.-9 p.m.) at the MICO gym.

President of JAVA, Wayne Robertson, said recently: “We are hoping to introduce volleyball at the primary/preparatory school (level) in 2010. The sport needs to be expanded and we need to introduce it to younger players and get them involved. We already have a high school league but that is not sufficient I believe the time has come for us to revise the high school league (which) is administered by ISSA (Inter-Secondary School Sports Association) and we basically just provide the oversight so to speak, but I believe that we really need to increase the number of schools that are currently playing the sport at that level.”

Currently, volleyball is largely played at the club and university / college level here in Jamaica. ISSA also administers a high school league, which acts somewhat as a feeder for the national age-group teams.

Robertson is reportedly also looking into the establishment of an Under-10 and Under-12 program to support the current Under-15 and Under-19 programs - this, as part of a comprehensive rethinking of the association’s approach to youth volleyball development. He has said however that securing financial support for this will be a challenge.

They will now face-off with Barbados in the finals at the same venue later tonight, however both teams are already guaranteed a place in the next round which takes place in Puerto Rico.

Jamaica, who were third behind champions Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados at last year’s Caribbean Championship, outgunned St. Lucia 25-15, 25-23, 25-21 in their game last night. Captain Lecia Brown led the Jamaican charge with 13 points, including three blocks and two service aces.
Cheryl Daley (11) and Avaniki Campbell (10) gave Jamaica three players in double figures.

Jamaica will play Cayman tomorrow in the final Pool B match.