Despite their country being devastated by the passage of Hurricane Maria last month, Dominica’s senior women’s volleyball team has been confirmed to participate in the third round of the 2018 FIVB World
Championship qualification, at the National Cycling Centre, in Balmain, Couva, from October 13 to 15.The Dominicans, who will ferry to St Lucia before travelling to T&T by plane, come up against host T&T in their opening Pool C match of the NORCECA Continental Women’s tournament from 7pm on Friday, two hours after Costa Rica and Mexico serve off the four-team competition.
A day later, T&T will do battle with Costa Rica and then face Mexico to close out the tournament from which the top two teams will qualify to the FIVB World Championship next year.
According to Mushtaque Mohammed, President of the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) and a former T&T Vollleyball Federation boss as well, the Dominicans will be travelling with a team of ten players, two coaches and a manager.
Mohammed admitted that it was very commendable on the part of the Dominicans considering what has transpired on the island and all efforts will be made by CAZOVA and NORCECA, to assist them in any was possible.
So far, Cuba and Canada have already earned their spots to the World Championship while Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Guatemala will contest Pool A from October 11 to 16 from which two other teams will qualify.
Top-ranked NORCECA team, USA has already qualified to the World Championships in Japan next year from September 29 to October 20, as the reigning champions and will be joined by the six other regional qualifiers at the finals.
The tournament at Couva will conclude a very hectic second part to the year for the Francisco Cruz-coached ‘Calypso Spikers’ who participated at the 16th Pan American Women’s Championship in Lima, Peru in June as well as the first two weeks of the 2017 FIVB Women’s Grand Prix, away in Mexico and then at home, a historic first ever hosting of the competition in July followed by the 16th Senior CAZOVA Women’s Championship in Jamaica where they claimed a record sixth straight crown and historic seventh overall under the captaincy of Sweden-based setter Renele Forde.
T&T team
Krystle Esdelle (captain), Jalicia Ross-Kydd (vice-captain), Renele Forde, Sinead Jack, Darlene Ramdin, Channon Thompson, Afeisha Olton, Kelly-Anne Billingy, Kiune Fletcher, Mikela Mc Gillvery, Latisha Morain, Afiya Alexander.
Tournament schedule: Friday, October 13:Mexico vs Costa Rica, 5pm
T&T vs Dominica, 7pm
Saturday October 14:Dominica vs Mexico, 5pm
T&T vs Costa Rica, 7pm
Sunday, October 15:Dominica vs Costa Rica, 5pm
T&T vs Mexico, 7pm
