Nigel Simon
nigel.simon@guardian.co.tt
T&T senior women’s volleyball will come up against a University of the West Indies men's team tonight in their final match before departing for the 24-team 2018 FIVB Women’s Championship which takes place in Japan from September 29 to October 20.
Captained by Renele Forde, the ‘Calypso Spikers’ ranked 34th in the world will face the UWI men's team at the University of West Indies Sports and Physical Educational Centre (UWI SPEC) from 7 pm this evening.
In Japan, T&T the reigning record eight-time Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) champions will face defending champion and world second-ranked USA, fifth-ranked Russia, South Korea (No 10), Thailand (No 16) and Azerbaijan (No 24) in Pool C at the 6,000 capacity seater Kobe Green Arena in Osaka Bay, Central Japan.
However, prior to competing at the sports’ second most prestigious event, behind the Olympic Games, the T&T women will be received by the city of Hemiji in Japan, and its volleyball team Hemiji Victorina which is coached by the legendary former setter Yoshi Takeshita from September 21 to 26 for pre-tournament matches.
Following tonight's match, the T&T contingent will then begin its departure for Japan on Tuesday with four members leaving via Canada while the remaining 13 will depart on Wednesday via the USA.
Middle-blocker Sinead Jack, who left T&T last week to join her new Japanese club for pre-season training in Germany will join the team on its arrival in the Asian country.
In addition to Forde, the core of players who qualified the team to Japan last year on home soil inclusive of Jalicia Ross-Kydd, Channon Thompson, Kelly-Anne Billingy, Sinead Jack, Darlene Ramdin, Afesha Olton, Latisha Morain, Krystle Esdelle and Kiune Fletcher have all retained their places in the 12-member squad.
The pair of Mikela Mc Gilvery and Afiya Alexander who were part of the team last October in qualify second from the NORCECA Group C series behind Mexico have been omitted with USA-based Delicia Pierre and Taija Thomas coming in to the team which made its FIVB World Grand Prix debut last year, a tournament now replaced by the Challenge Cup and Nations League.
T&T women’s team
Renele Forde, Delicia Pierre, Jalicia Ross-Kydd, Channon Thompson, Kelly-Ann Billingy, Sinead Jack, Darlene Ramdin, Taija Thomas, Afesha Olton, Latisha Morain, Krystle Esdelle, Kiune Fletcher.
Technical staff: Francisco Cruz (coach), Nicholson Drakes (assistant coach), Jarad Cuffie (assistant coach), Keva Stephens (trainer), Sean Morrison (media), Vaughn Martin (manager/head of delegation).