Paul Burrowes Thursday, November 29, 2012

JAMAICA will open their preliminary round NORCECA qualification match for the 2014 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship this morning at 11:00 when they take on the Cayman Islands at the Alfred Sangster Auditorium, University of Technology.

Drawn in Pool E, the Shedeiky Hamilton-led girls will also play Aruba tonight at 8:00 before going up against Barbados tomorrow morning at 11:00.

Head coach Garth Bonner said: “The players are in high spirits and ready to go; they all know the importance of these qualifiers and what is required of them.

“Our main goal in this tournament is to qualify for the next round and for us to guarantee that, we will have to win our first two matches on Thursday (today). It won’t be easy, but the girls are ready to battle,” he said.

“There is a high level of expectation of the team from Jamaicans; moreso, because the tournament is playing on our home soil. The girls understand and appreciate the expectation and are up and ready to go,” Bonner emphasised.

Captain apart, the other members of the team are local-based players Cafellon Fraster, Kai Wright, Kamille Dwyer, Cherie Thompson, Tiffany Clarke and Petal Smith. From overseas are Lecia Brown, Avanki Campbell, Naima Stenneth, Sashalee Wallen and Makini Thompson.

Bonner believes that for the girls to really advance they would have to “play hard, positive and consistent volleyball throughout the tournament”.

During the training the girls were playing well, he said, and were expected to produce their ‘A’ game over the two days.

“We have encouraged them to be focused at all times, to always play at a high level of intensity and be mindful of adjustments being made.

“We talked about the importance of executing well, especially when a team strategy is developed. We also talked about being mentally prepared at all times knowing that there will be no easy matches,” he said.

Jamaica’s toughest match will be against the Bajans tomorrow.

“Barbados are a tough and experienced team, led by a very experienced player by the name of Shari Matthews,” Bonner noted.
For more on this story go to: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/JA-battle-Cayman-in-NORCECA-opener_13109736#ixzz2DcDvgeSu