Jamaica finish CAZOVA qualifier in style 

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, October 31, 2016: Jamaica finished the first round of the CAZOVA zonal qualifying series for the 2018 FIVB Men’s World Volleyball Championship with a bang tonight at the Anthony Nesty Indoor Sports Hall.

The sixth-ranked team in the CAZOVA (Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association) region outclassed Turks & Caicos 25-6, 25-7, 25-11 to win the four-country Group B tournament.

The match lasted just 52 minutes and the only player to score in double figures was Jamaican Dellan Brown (11).

Not only were they unbeaten in the straight round-robin tournament, they Jamaicans not drop a set after losing the first one they played – against Suriname the morning before.

Jamaica had qualified for the second round since the day before with victories over both the hosts and Guadeloupe and coach Gatasheu Bonner stated he was impressed that his players were able to maintain their focus without getting complacent.

Captain Ryck Webb said that although they did not expect a tough match, his players were determined to play their game and not be concerned about the level of the opposition.

Turks & Caicos, an inexperienced team comprising two players in their 40s, two just a couple years younger and several more over the age of 30, did not win a set from their three matches and only managed to muster 24 total points tonight, ten less than they had scored against Suriname the night before.

However coach Donnovan Garvey reiterated that “there is no lose when you are in the process of development” and skipper Isaiah Gardiner pointed out it was the first major volleyball tournament for his country.