Volleyball serving up great opportunities for Vincentians

Opportunities are opening up for Vincentian volleyballers to improve their game, and at the same time enhance their education.

This was disclosed by president of the St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Volleyball Association (SVGVA) Suzanna Ollivierre, as she addressed the opening of the National Volleyball Championships, last Saturday, at the St Vincent Girls’ High School’s hard court.

Ollivierre informed, “We currently have one athlete who has been offered a scholarship to a school in the US, and I want to congratulate him on that”.

President of the SVGVA
Suzanna Ollivierre at last
Saturday’s opening of the National Volleyball Championships

The SVGVA president cited the attributes which propelled the player to be afforded the chance to showcase his skills overseas.

“It is play…, his demeanour and his willingness to work that gave him that opportunity,” Ollivierre related.

Imploring others, Ollivierre said, “So I say to the rest players, there are opportunities out there… Sports is the vehicle to take you further… Don’t think of sports as just playing for physical recreation, there is more”.

Last Saturday was a red letter in local volleyball, as it heralded the return of the National Volleyball Championships, after being off the sport’s agenda for the past seven years.

The return sees a total of 18 teams contesting the championships, which will be played in three divisions.

In the male elite division are Alliance, Country Roots and Gremlins.

Seven units are in the male first division. Gremlins Two, Alliance One and Wings make up Zone A, with Alliance Two, Country Roots, Unique Touch and Gremlins One in Zone B.

The female division, which has eight teams, comprises Unique Touch One and Two, Gremlins One and Wings in Zone A and in Zone B, are Alliance One and Two, along with Country Roots and Gremlins Two.

In Saturday’s opening salvo, Gremlins One outplayed Unique Touch One, 25-22, 25-22, 25-24, in the female division, while in the male elite, Alliance defeated Country Roots, 24-26, 25-17, 27-25, 25-18.

But Country Roots’ male first division outfit got over Unique Touch on Tuesday, 25- 14, 25-22, 25-12.

Apart from the Girls’ High School facility, the courts at the Dickson Methodist School, the South Rivers Methodist and that of the Gomea Methodist have been earmarked to host matches in the championships.

November 30, is the date set aside for the completion of the championships.