Fri | Mar 29, 2024

Ja seek better NORCECA showing

Published:Saturday | November 16, 2019 | 12:33 AMKavarly Arnold/Gleaner Writer - Western Bureau -
Wright
Wright

Despite not having the best start to the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tournament at the Ocho Rios Bay Beach in St Ann, Jamaica’s women’s team is excited ahead of playing tomorrow’s NORCECA Continental First Round Qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Jamaica’s women’s team, ranked No. 2 in the region, will play No. 3 ranked US Virgin Islands this morning as they look to join No. 1 ranked Trinidad and Tobago, who got a bye to the second round qualifiers.

The three-day tournament features 14 countries with both men’s and women’s teams.

Jamaica’s Kai Wright said she and her playing partner Petal Smith are looking forward to tomorrow’s game.

“I’m looking forward to winning our next games, especially the Olympic qualifying match,” Wright said. “Petal and I have been playing for a while and have been steadily improving. Our main aim is to continue winning in NORCECA to get points towards the Olympic qualifiers and move up on rankings.”

Men’s player Ryck Webb said despite a challenging first day, he and his partner Noley Ferguson expect things to get better as chemistry is formed.

“My beach partner and I haven’t had much playing time together,” he said. “This is, in fact, the first time we are playing together. However, we are experienced players so we are just hoping that as the tournament progresses, we will be able to work out that chemistry that we will need.

“This morning we played against an experienced US team that showed us that we have to work on our service reception and setting. For the game to come, we will correct that and we shouldn’t have an issue.”

Results

Men’s

USA defeated Jamaica (Ryck Webb and Noley Ferguson) 17-21 & 10-21 (2-0)

Canada defeated Jamaica (Tristan Hitchman and Owayne Lawrence) 5-21 & 12-21 (2-0)

Trinidad & Tobago defeated Jamaica (Tristan Hitchman and Owayne Lawrence) 12-21 & 13-21 (2-0)

Women’s

Costa Rica defeated Jamaica (Kia Wright/Petal Smith) 10-21, 23-21 & 10-15 (2-1)

Jamaica (Kia Wright/Petal Smith) defeated Aruba 21-15 & 21-17 (2-0)

Curaçao defeated Jamaica (Danielle Watson and Selena Mitchell) 8-21 & 11-21 (2-0)

Nicaragua defeated Jamaica (Danielle Watson and Selena Mitchell) 7-21 & 7-21 (2-0)