Canadian Jamie Broder to defend title in Tobago

TOBAGO, November 24, 2016 - Canadian Jamie Broder, a two-time female champion at the Trinidad & Tobago Beach Volleyball Tournament, is among several past champions competing this weekend in Tobago where the final leg of the NORCECA Circuit kicks off on Friday.

The defending champion Broder, who was crowned last year and also in 2013 when she teamed up with compatriot Kristina Valjas, will have Melissa Humana-Paredes, another former champion as her new partner for the closing event of the year. Humana-Paredes won here with Taylor Pischke in 2014.

The USA pair of Emily Day and Summer Ross complete the list of past champions officially registered to participate in the double gender competition organized by the Trinidad & Tobago Volleyball Federation for fifth consecutive year. In 2007 the tournament only included women’s competition.

Day and Ross triumphed in 2012 but have engaged with new partners since then. Day will team up with Brooge Sweat while Ross will be playing alongside Kimberly Dicello.

Eighteen and twelve teams of men and women, respectively, were registered to take part when the preliminary inspections and technical meeting took place on Thursday evening at the Crafton Beach Resort, the players’ official hotel.

Men’s teams are divided into four pools (two of four teams and two of five teams) while women’s teams are divided into three pools.

The top two teams from the men’s pools will advance to the main draw. In the women’s event, the top two teams plus the best two third placed teams will play in the knock-out round.

Daymian Stewart, president of the Trinidad & Tobago Volleyball Federation, welcomed the players during a brief opening ceremony, and Mushtaque Mohammed, NORCECA delegate, conducted the technical meeting. Ed Drakich is the competition director and Andre Trottier, the referee manager.

Past winners in Trinidad & Tobago

2007

PUR Annia Ruiz/Yamileska Yantín (W)

2012

USA Will Montgomery/Antonio Ciarelli (M)

USA Emily Day/Summer Ross (W)

2013

CAN Christian Redmann/Maverick Hatch (M)

CAN Jamie Broder/Kristina Valjas (W)

2014

CAN Chaim Schalk/Benjamin Saxton (M)

CAN Melissa Humaña/Taylor Pischke (W)

2015

USA Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena (M)

CAN Jamie Broder/Kristina Valjas (W)