Junior National Volleyball Squad Selected

KINGSTON, Jamaica, February 22, 2011

A total of 48 boys and girls have been invited to the Jamaica Volleyball Association (JaVA) Youth (U-19) and Junior (U-21) training camp, which commenced on Saturday 12 February 2011. The teams are preparing for the Caribbean Volleyball Championship (CVC) in August 2011 with hopes of eventually qualifying for the 2013 World Championships.

The invitees are as follows:

Girls -Tiffany Clarke - St. Andrew High, Solene Walker,Lamise Hamilton - Old Harbour High, Sadeika Romans-Smith, Deandrea Cameron, Abbie-Gail Raymond, Sade Collins - St. Jago High, Yvonne Foster, Tiffany Blake -Meadowbrook High,Vanessa Jones, Kimberly Simmonds, Jhomar Royal, Shenelle Walker, Kerin Grant, Shade Chambers - Wolmer’s Girls, Janique Hendricks, Patrice McLean, Kriss-Ann Barnes, Merissa Myers - Alpha, Samantha Currier, Vanessa James, Cavel Bell-Davis - Camperdown, and Karina Max-Brown - Hillel Academy

Boys - Ryck Webb, Michael Walker, Tarik Bailey, Meshach McKnight, Jovanny Clarke, Kemar Byfield, Matthew Blake -St Jago, Jermaine Ricketts,Kistopher Thompson, Nikolaus Richards, Ashani Miller, Mikhail Palmer, Phillip Malcolm -Wolmers Boys, Shaun Hosang, Zhanoy Williams, Delona White, Fabian Bennett, Davion Palmer, Chezrik McKenzie, Kevoy Whittaker - Knox, Aseem Allwood, Okacha Tulloch, Ackeem West, Nicholas Whatle - Old Harbour.

While other players are being considered for invitation, the current selectees have started training at the JaVA Development Centre at the National Stadium Complex from 7 - 10am. Efforts are also being made to hold trainings sessions in western Jamaica to facilitate invitees in that section of the Island.

The Association desires to host the Junior Championships and is hoping to receive sponsorship support to cover the major costs of accommodation, meals, transportation and venue rental. Major Warrenton Dixon, President of the JaVA, in explaining the Association's desire to host the Championships, stated, "Our Junior male squad is made up of some very talented boys who could likely bring glory to Jamaica by winning the Championship. In addition, hosting the Championships would go a very long way toward the local development of volleyball, as it would give a large number of students a chance to view competitive volleyball at this level. Additionally, our young athletes would be afforded the satisfaction of having their families and friends supporting and cheering for them as they play." The JaVA has initiated discussions with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture with a view to attracting the support of the Ministry with respect to hosting the Championship.