Local volleyball enthusiasts hope the momentum from a recent tournament carries over into the coming weeks.
The Cayman Islands Volleyball Federation wrapped up its Camana Bay National Volleyball League earlier this month. The competition took place at Camana Bay’s Arts and Recreation Centre for the first time.
League coordinator Jacob Strand states it is a good segue to upcoming tournaments.
“The Camana Bay league was a complete success with many teams participating, improving and having fun as the league progressed,” Strand said. “The federation looks forward to hosting more of these tournaments in the near future. Thanks to our main sponsors Camana Bay and Red Bull.”
Cayman is bracing for two major indoor competitions in the weeks ahead. Up first is the 2014 World Championship Men’s Qualifier on 6-7 October. Four male Caribbean teams, representing Cayman, Aruba, Barbados and Suriname, will be competing for a spot at the World Championships in Poland in 2014.
After that is the annual Cayman Airways Spikefest competition on 9-11 November. Cayman will be challenging teams from Jamaica, Bahamas, the US and Barbados.
Both events take place at the Sir Vassel Johnson Hall of the University College of the Cayman Islands. Cayman is staging an indoor world championship qualifier for the first time while Spikefest has been taking place for a number of years.
Federation president Noel Williams states Cayman is ready to face foreign opposition.
“The Camana Bay league was an excellent precursor to the World Championship qualifiers which will be held in the Cayman Islands,” Williams said. “The standard of volleyball on the Island is improving significantly every year and we look forward to a competitive and successful tournament for the Cayman Islands men’s team at the World Championships next month.”
The Camana Bay league attracted local stars like Richard Campbell and Olney Thompson. Federation tournament director Fareed Hosein captained KPMG to the men’s division crown with the Goan Spikers placing second and Digicel in third.
First Baptist and Storm, under Strand, were the top co-ed teams. The runners-up were Philippines All Stars, Philippines A, BDO and Safe Sets. Matches took place twice a week starting in late July, attracting 10 teams each night.
Prior to the men’s qualifier, some of Cayman’s top players will storm the beach on the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation 2012 circuit. The eighth stop of the tour is the US city of San Diego on 26 September-1 October.
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