U-21 volleyballers debut on continental stage

St Vincent and the Grenadines will make its debut in the NORCECA Under-21 Continental Men’s Championship from Monday at the US Olympic Training Centre in Colorado Springs, U.S.A.{{more}}

Making the final cut and representation for St Vincent and the Grenadines are Maxroy Dublin, Enrico Nedd, Azhino Solomon, Adonson DeSouza, Andre Franklyn, Jamal Small, Allisko Samuel, Jamal Edwards, Marlon Cupid and Ijahlon Butler.

St Vincent and the Grenadines, which earned the right to participate in this championship by winning the ECVA Under-18 tournament last year in Anguilla, has been grouped with Mexico, Honduras and host U.S.A.

The other group comprises Guatemala, Canada, Puerto Rico and Curacao.

Coach and manager of the St Vincent and the Grenadines team Brian Burke acknowledged that it will be a difficult task for his relatively inexperienced team.

“It is the first time we will be competing at this international level, but we are going out there to do our best and represent St Vincent and the Grenadines to the best of our ability.” Burke said.

Following the preliminary round robin of the competition, the top teams will square off for the championship, while the others will pair off and compete for the next positions from third to eighth.

The top two teams at the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2013 FIVB Men’s Junior World Championship in Turkey.(RT)