Battle for top spots kicks off at Cayman Islands on Friday

SEVEN MILES BEACH, Grand Cayman, March 22, 2011 - The first stage of the 2012 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour kicks off in beautiful Seven Miles Beach on Friday with teams from 15 countries battling for the top spots in the elimination round.

The first point in the agenda during the Technical Meeting was a special tribute from the National Federation of Cayman Islands to honor the late player Danny Wilson from Jamaica who passed away last December. All in attendance held one minute of silence in his honor.

Eighteen teams in the women’s division, distributed according to the 2011 NORCECA ranking, will battle in a double elimination format beginning with two matches simultaneously between Michelle Moriarty/Traci Weamer (USA-2) and Sadia Baptiste/Jamilla Lansiquot (LCA); and Veronique Berthelot/Cécile Pougeol (FSM) and Sharon Payne/Rosemarie Simon (ANT).

While in the men´s division, a Pool Play system was established, in which the best two of each pool will advance to the next round. Pool Composition: Pool A PUR, CAY-1, IVS, CAY-3 Pool B DOM, ESA, SKN, FSM Pool C CAN, TRI, ANT, CAY-2 Pool D GUA, USA, CAN-2, LCA. The first match presents Hector Belardo/Jerall Nicholas (ISV) against Philippe Deslandes/ Duncan Haymann (CAY-3).

Arnaldo Sanchez, the competition director, who supervised the Preliminary Inquiry and the Technical Meeting held on Thursday, explained the competition system and the distribution of teams without previous ranking.

NORCECA’S Delegate, Hall of Famer Sinjin Smith, was pleased to announce that the FIVB is opening more opportunities for the NORCECA Confederation that motivates our tour to be better every year. On behalf of Cristobal Marte Hoffiz, President of NORCECA he declared the 2012 Tour opened.

President of Cayman Islands Volleyball Federation, Mr. Noel Williams, gave a warm welcoming to the players and was glad to see newcomers to the tour.