Nigel Simon
nigel.simon@guardian.co.tt
T&T men and women beach volleyball teams will be hoping for much-improved weather and results when the fifth stop of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit serves off in the tourism municipality of Boca Chica, the Dominican Republic from today (Friday) and run until Sunday.
Last weekend, at the fourth stop in Punta Cana, the four participating T&T teams had their tournament hampered by severe weather which hit the venue on Saturday morning, forcing most of their matches to be cancelled and their final placings determined by their existing tour rankings.
In the end, top-ranked local men's beach volleyball pairing, Daneil Williams and Daynte Stewart ended in 11th spot, one ahead of fellow T&T duo Joel Theodore and Marlon Phillip.
When the tournament served off on Friday, Williams and Stewart had an easy opening day in Pool B, after winning by default from Dominican Republic's Florent Yhan/Riviere Lincoln, 0-21, 0-21. However, when they faced USA's Eric Zaun and James Avery Drost, the T&T men were beaten 14-21, 17-21 to end in the second spot.
Williams and Stewart then faced off with Costa Ricans Richard Smith and Brian Monge in the last-12 and were defeated 18-21, 21-12, 12-15 to miss out on a quarterfinal spot.
In the women's draw, top-ranked T&T duo Rheeza Grant and Abby Blackman finished 20th and La Teisha Joseph and Suraya Chase, 17th. This after both teams also fell victim to the adverse weather conditions.
Grant and Blackman were edged out by St Kitts/Nevis' Shanicia Dyer and Brenda Allen-Edinborough in the consolidation quarterfinals while Chase and Joseph did likewise versus Colombians Ingrid Lopez and Patricia Polo, based on rankings.
In the ninth to 12th semifinal playoffs, Chase and Joseph got the better of Dominican Republic's Alondra Berroa and Julibeth Payano while Grant and Blackman were second-best to Cristal Gregorius and Angjeny Tolentino of Curacao.
Chase and Joseph were then awarded a win over Gregorius and Tolentino while Grant and Blackman were losers against Berroa and Payano.
When competition served off on Friday in round-robin pool play, Grant and Blackman went under to Lopez and Polo 18-21, 18-21; and, USA's Falyn Fonoimoana and Molly Turner 12-21, 8-21 on Friday.
Grant and Blackman were also defeated by Nicaraguans, Valeria Mendoza and Magarita Lopez, 12-21, 13-21 to end 0-3.
T&T's other women's team of La Teisha Joseph and Suraya Chase also ended winless after losing to Elizabeth Recinos ad Estafanie Bethancourt of Guatemala, 15-21, 11-21, and Jamaicans, Kai Wright and Sasha-Lee Wallen, 11-21, 9-21.
Today, more than 15 countries will be represented in the event which grants points for the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.
Last night at the technical meeting for all teams, the round-robin groupings for both men and women competition were confirmed ahead of this morning's start to the competition.