Quest 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 on Friday in beautiful Seven Miles Beach with teams from 15 countries looking for the top spots in the elimination phase.

The first matter in the agenda during the Technical Meeting was a special tribute from the National Federation of Cayman Islands for player Danny Wilson from Jamaica who passed away last December; all present offered a minute of silence in his honor.

18 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, Competition Director, supervised the Preliminary Inquiry and Technical Meetings held on Thursday, he explained the competition system and with a draw teams with no ranking were distributed.

Hall of Famer Sinjin Smith and NORCECA’S Delegate, 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 new comers to the tour.