62 players in St Lucia BVB Tournament

GROS ISLET, St Lucia, October 26, 2012 – The St Lucia Beach Volleyball Tournament, ninth stop of the 2012 NORCECA Circuit, kicks off on Friday morning at Pigeon Point Beach with 22 matches –twelve men’s and ten women’s.

The preliminary enquiry and general technical meeting took place on Thursday at Bay Garden Hotel chaired over by Brian Louisy, president of St Lucia Volleyball Association, Nelson Ramirez, NORCECA delegate, and Arnaldo Sanchez, technical director.

Sixteen men’s pairs and fifteen women’s duos are ready to compete under a double elimination bracket starting at 9:00 a.m. in two courts approved by the NORCECA Control Committee.

The local women’s duo of Samantha Mann and Dania Hamilton takes on Ayana Dyette and Elki Phillip of Trinidad & Tobago-1 while in the men’s division William Montogomery and Jonathan Meski of United States-1 play against Curtis Gaskin and Hugh Sealey of Barbados.

“We are very happy to welcome many of the best beach volleyball players of the region and I wish you all a pleasant stay and a good competition in St Lucia,” Louisy said in his speech on Thursday evening.

Sanchez informed on the competition system of the tournament and directed the seeding of the non-ranked teams, while Miguel Ramirez introduced the international referees.

Finally, Nelson Ramirez praised the efforts made by the local organizers and wished the best to the 62 players on behalf of Cristobal Marte Hoffiz, the president of the NORCECA Volleyball Confederation.

The Pigeon Point location was chosen to host the event because of easy access and the viability of space.

"Throughout the period of the championship, buses will be available to the population," explained Shane Roachford, the Public Relations Manager of the Association.

Another particular of the event is the massive participation of junior players as volunteers. Helping in all stages of the organization of the championship, the new athletes work voluntarily for the pleasure of being part of the Volleyball St. Lucia family.

“To work with teenagers is good because they are fun. They are very excited and involved with the event”, said Roachford who is also in charge of the volunteers.

The volunteers group has 75 people working together. Among them are junior national players, athletes from several volleyball clubs and lovers of volleyball.