CAZOVA Beach Volleyball Olympic Qualifier set to begin 

CHAGUANA, Trinidad & Tobago, December 16, 2010 – The CAZOVA Olympic Beach Volleyball zonal phase qualifier kicks off on Friday with 16 matches in the men’s competition and 13 in the women’s field.

Action is scheduled to start at 10:00 AM (local time) with matches in both genders. In the men’s side, the fourth ranked Barbados meet the fifth seeded Bahamas while in the women’s event Curacao (4^th seeded) goes against Aruba (5^th). In both series the two teams representing each country will compete against the other two.

The CAZOVA phase is played under the new competition system that pits country against country in best-of-five matches. In case of a tie, the series will be decided by a golden set.

The other three series in the men’s section feature first seeded Jamaica against U.S. Virgin Islands (8^th), second seeded Trinidad & Tobago (2) versus Surinam (7^th) and third seeded Aruba (3) against Curacao (6).

Meanwhile in the women’s tournament, the other series in action features first seeded Trinidad & Tobago vs. U.S. Virgin Islands (8^th), second seeded Jamaica against Bahamas (7^th) and third seeded Barbados against Suriname (6^th).

The top four countries of each series will advance to the best-of-three second round to be played on Saturday. The semifinals and finals will take place on Sunday.

The series were decided during the drawing held at the General Technical Meeting chaired by Mr. Mushtaque Mohammed, President of the National Federation of Trinidad & Tobago, Mr. Arnaldo Sanchez, the Competition Director and Mrs. Indhira Ramirez, NORCECA Delegate.

The top four countries of this phase will advance to the second round of the Continental Cup in 2011 where they will meet the top four countries from ECVA zone.

This phase is part of the new Olympic qualification system for Beach Volleyball approved by FIVB last October.