Kingston, Jamaica, April 17, 2005 – Jamaica advanced to the second round of the 2006 FIVB Women’s World Championship in the Norceca region after winning the Norceca Pool A first round tournament on Sunday following a convincing straight sets victory over the Netherlands Antilles before a 3,000 strong crowd at the National Arena of Kingston.

The home side received a standing ovation once they had completed the one-sided victory, taking only 60 minutes to wrap up their third win in as many games 25-19, 25-18, 25-11.

The athletic Jamaicans crushed their rivals in outstanding fashion with a flurry of spikes led by captain and MVP Tracyann Pryce and Daley Cheryl who scored 14 and 10 points respectively while Paula Porter-Jones and Cherine Richards each contributed eight points. Geraldine Gregorius scored 12 points for the Netherlands Antilles.
Pic: Jamaica celebrating as they completed the Norceca Pool A first round tournament unbeaten with three wins from three matches
The convincing victory now means Jamaica will head to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic to compete against former Women's World Championship winner Cuba, Costa Rica, hosts the Dominican Republic and another first round winner from August 24-28 for a chance to advance to the World Championship final round in Japan. Teams that finish in the top three of the five-team second-round tournament will claim a ticket.

“I am real happy about the outcome but I expected to play at least four sets,” Pryce said. “We put everything together and came to the match with one and only purpose: To move to the next round and hopefully go to Japan next year.”

Jamaican coach Ortnel Findlay said: “The level of the competition will be a lot higher in Santo Domingo and we are going there with the goal of reaching the World Championship final round. Tonight we did what was needed with excellent execution from all my players.”

In the other match on the final day, the British Virgin Islands collected their first win of the tournament by beating the Cayman Islands 3-1 (25-15, 25-18, 24-26, 25-21) to finish third.

The player awards at the tournament were: Most Valuable Player - Tracyann Pryce (JAM); Best Defense and Serve Reception - Jacqueline Weekes (BVI); Best Server - Sabinah Mason (BVI); Best Setter - Kamille Dwyer (JAM); Best Libero - Naemi Monte (AHO); Best Spiker - Ptamony Fletcher (JAM); Best Blocker - Geraldine Gregorius (AHO).

The next tournament to feature in the 2006 Women’s World Championship is a first round event (Africa Pool C) in Vacoas, Mauritius from April 22-April 24, 2005 featuring the hosts, Tunisia, Cameroon and Uganda where the winner will claim a ticket to the final round.

The next tournament to feature in the 2006 Men’s World Championship is a first round event (Asia Pool B) in Ratchaburi, Thailand from April 29-May 1, 2005 featuring the hosts, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan where the two top place getters will advance to the second round.