VOLLEYBALL

THE TRINIDAD and Tobago Volleyball Federation (TTVF), while saddened on reaching the cusp of an Olympic berth - one which would have been the first for a team sport from the twin-island republic - plans to now reflect on all the lessons learnt and put things in place to ensure that our beach volley-ballers are represented in Tokyo 2020.

A new five-star structure for the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Beach Volleyball World Tour will be used between 2017 and 2020, it has been announced.

Diego Martin-born duo, Ayana Dyette and Malika Davidson kept T&T women hopes of a top eighth place finish at the 12-team double-elimination NORCECA Continental Cup Beach Volleyball qualifiers to the Rio de Janiero Olympic Games alive with a “Golden Set” win over Jamaica at Guayman, Sonora, Mexico, yesterday. T&T played Guatemala in a losing semi-final last night.

The recently concluded $240,000 Flow-sponsored T&T Volleyball Federation Premier Division League has been described as a resounding success by Daymian Stewart, president of the local body.

T&T men’s beach volleyball team will depart for Guaymas, Mexico today where they will contest the Fourth Round of NORCECA Inter-Continental Men’s Olympic Beach Volleyball qualifiers to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August.

The overseas-based quartet of Darlene Ramdin, Channon Thompson, Sinead Jack and Krystle Esdelle head a group of 30 players who began training with Cuban-born T&T coach and T&T Volleyball Federation, Director, Francisco Cruz on Monday at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo, for the 15th Pan American Volleyball Cup in Santo Domingo, from June 30 to July 11.