April 15, 2005 – Friday will see the commencement of top-flight Volleyball in Jamaica as the National Indoor Sports Centre will be the venue for the first round of the 2006 Women's World Championships in the North, Central America and the Caribbean Confederation (NORCECA) region.

The Jamaicans, who jump into action at 8:00 p.m. (local time) against the Cayman Islands, are ranked 46th in the world from a field of 99 teams attempting to qualify for the 2006 Women's World Championship final round in Japan.

Not much is known about the Cayman Islands, who have only just started to play competitively after a long lay-off from the sport. To counteract the lack of knowledge, the No. 2 ranked team in the region, along with head coach, Ortnel Findlay, will have to be 'learning on their feet'.

"We don't know much about the Cayman Islands because they haven't been playing competitively so we'll have to analyse them during the game and adapt to take advantage of their weaknesses and avoid their strengths," Findlay said.

With the high ranking of the Jamaicans, who made it to the second round of the 2002 World Championships and placed second in the Caribbean Championships last year, the hosts are expected to have a fairly easy time.

"We expect to win all of our games. The only problem that we might have is the British Virgin Islands (B.V.I.), who we also don't know much about," explained Findlay.

Unlike the scenario that will prevail on the opening day, the Jamaicans will be prepared for B.V.I., who are scheduled to open the qualifiers at 6:00 p.m. against the Netherlands Antilles.

With the road-to-Japan campaign under way, the question is whether the Jamaicans can not only open their account positively on Friday, but can they go all the way?

"Hopefully the girls can do well. The next round will be a little tougher; however, with three places up for grabs I think they can do it," Findlay said.

If the Jamaicans make it to the next round by winning the first round tournament, they will only have to finish in the top three in the five-team second-round tournament to reach the World Championship final round. The winner of the Kingston leg, will head to Santo Domingo for the second leg on August 24-28 to compete against Cuba, a former Women's World Championship winner, Costa Rica, hosts the Dominican Republic and another first round winner.

The first round continues on Saturday with a 6:00 p.m. fixture between the Cayman Islands and the Netherlands Antilles while Jamaica will play against B.V.I. at 8:00 p.m.

On Sunday the round will be completed when the Caymans play B.V.I. and Jamaica close the show against the Netherlands Antilles.

Jamaican squad: Tracyann Pryce (captain), Shanique Green, Tanya Distant, Cherine Richards, Cheryl Daley, Kamille Dwyer, Nardrake Hutchinson, Annie Williams-Lewis, Romaine McNeil, Shedeiky Hamilton, Paula-Anne Porter-Jones, Avanike Campbell.

Story courtesy of the Jamaica Cleaner