Four female teams pursue ECVA Under-23 glory

LA CLERY, St Lucia, August 12, 2016: Four female Under-23 teams- Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, St Vincent and the Grenadines and host St Lucia are vyeing for honours in the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Tournament, which opens Saturday at the Vide Boutielle Secondary School’s court.

One mission was the consensus of three of the coaches, when they were engaged in the preliminary briefing Friday evening at the Hill Side Plaza Guest House.

Antigua and Barbuda‘s coach Fitzroy Benjamin said that his charges are in the tournament for a sole purpose, “to come out on top”.

“This team has been together for some time, since August last year and has practised hard for this “, the Antigua and Barbuda head coach commented.

Benjamin’s optimism is against the background that they are not fielding their strongest team as several of the players who were in the original team, have migrated.

Meanwhile, St Vincent and the Grenadines’ coach - Nikita Campbell was equally looking to finish at the top of the heap.

“Our team is relatively young but they have the willingness to represent and do their best… I expect them to give one – hundred percent when they hit the court”, Campbell said with a sense of confidence.

And, venturing in relatively new territory; competing on an open court,  as opposed to the accustomed totally enclosed facility, Benjamin in revealing the focus of their attention, stated, “We start with the set and pass, those two are key, the spiking will come after”.

And, St Lucia’s coach- Joseph Clercent believes his team has what it takes to trump over his team’s three opponents.

“I have a set of young girls and all we are going out to do is to win this tournament”, Clercent declared.

He added, “It has been a while we have been preparing for this tournament…We have a good serving team and a good defensive team and with that I am confident”.

The Clercent coached St Lucia takes on Antigua and Barbuda in the day’s opening match, then St Vincent and the Grenadines plays the British Virgin Islands in the second of the morning matches.