The Bermuda Volleyball Affiliation despatched 4 groups to the Rhode Island Rumble Weekend #1, in Windfall, Rhode Island over the Easter vacation weekend,  with the groups making a profitable exhibiting.

“Touring beneath the membership title “Paradise Hitters Volleyball Membership” groups have been despatched to take part within the Ladies U14 Membership, Ladies U16 Membership, Ladies U17 Membership and Ladies U18 Membership divisions,” a spokesperson stated.

“This was the primary time that the Paradise Hitters Volleyball Membership despatched groups to this Rhode Island based mostly match. The entire Bermuda contingent amounted 62 individuals consisting of 39 gamers and 23 coaches, employees, chaperones and fogeys. The groups performed at various schedules which included match begins from 8:15am within the morning to eight:15pm at night time with every thing in between.

“The Ladies U14 and Ladies U16 groups had by no means travelled to any abroad tournaments earlier than, in addition to one participant, and had one other participant who had simply picked up the sport in the previous couple of months. Each of those groups made it to the Bronze Medal playoff spherical, with every ending the match in seventeenth place out of 24 groups.”

Meagan McPeek-Tyree, Head Coach of the Ladies U14 crew, stated: “These women have battled COVID delays, lack of ability to apply collectively and has a number of gamers which might be very new to the game. They got here along with management, a powerful work ethic and selected to work as a crew which allowed them to play at a stage above something they’d beforehand proven.

“They gained the primary match [2-0] proper out of the gate; then needed to overcome one other problem with one among our Outdoors Hitters being injured and out the remainder of the day. We restructured and the gamers stepped as much as model new roles and have been superb. Our injured participant was so decided, did every thing she probably may, and received again within the court docket for a part of the second day.

“By the top of the match, taking part in towards groups who had been coaching for much longer collectively, each single participant had finished one thing they’d by no means finished earlier than. They have been constructive, pushed and wish to achieve this way more – the most effective expertise you possibly can hope for! The chance to play away and get the sort of expertise is invaluable for these younger athletes.”

Lisa LeBlanc, Head Coach of the Ladies U16 crew, stated: “I can’t be extra happy with these athletes. Now we have skilled exhausting and stayed devoted all through these previous two COVID years of hurdles. Our additional efforts of conducting apply, even by way of Zoom calls and particular person residence abilities drills at some factors, can’t be ignored. I’m misplaced for phrases on the advantages of attending one among these occasions after witnessing with my very own eyes, not solely my U16’s, however for all of our groups that attended.

“This match has remodeled these younger athletes into turning into much more assured with their abilities, understanding the true tempo of matches of their age group and in a matter of solely 48 hours of play, have little doubt, grow to be a lot better volleyball gamers. It was so rewarding to really feel the vitality and their willpower all through each set irrespective of how fierce the competitors was.

“All of them simply appeared to unknowingly take in how their friends performed and picked up much more abilities and technical understandings whereas being surrounded with distinctive volleyball. They then went a step additional and demonstrated on the court docket that they might do these abilities as nicely.

“The accomplishments each as people and as a crew is just about unattainable to recreate with out this abroad expertise and I can’t anticipate the subsequent alternative for these women and hopefully others could have within the close to future.”

The Ladies U17 crew ended the match in eighth place out of 14 groups incomes a spot in bronze medal spherical and taking the Bronze Medal for that spherical.

Allison Settle, Head Coach of the Ladies U17 crew had this to say: “I’m extraordinarily happy with how nicely the U17 crew performed over the weekend, they performed the most effective and most constant volleyball that I’ve seen from them to this point this season. They gained 3/5 of the matches, however one of many losses went to a tie breaking set after shedding the primary set. Simply to see the crew regroup and win the second set was an accomplishment.

“Volleyball is a technical and psychological sport, the ladies must discover ways to play by way of the ups and downs, discover the positives in each state of affairs, look ahead to the subsequent play and overlook about errors. Seeing the ladies win all 4 units on the second day was a real show that they have been the higher crew bodily and mentally. The teamwork and encouragement that they maintained in the direction of one another all through the match is the rationale for his or her success.”

The Ladies U18 crew ended the match in third place out of 20 groups, taking the general Bronze Medal for your complete division. That is the primary time {that a} Bermuda Volleyball crew [Senior vs. Junior, Female vs. Male] has made it to the gold medal spherical at a USA volleyball sanctioned match and earned a medal for his or her efforts.

Gary LeBlanc, Head Coach of the Ladies U18 crew had this to say: “I’m tremendously happy with this crew, to say the least. Our final USA volleyball match was again in March 2020 the place we arrived again to Bermuda simply earlier than the island went into lockdown and for the final two years, COVID has actually put a wrench into our coaching efforts.

“Now we have not been in a position to compete abroad whereas everybody within the US continued, to a big extent. Simply attending to this match was an enormous win and whereas we have been very looking forward to a profitable end result, we have been a bit not sure on what that might really imply.

“We had some very powerful and shut matches the place a bit extra match expertise would have gone a good distance. We did our greatest by specializing in the basics, making an attempt to reduce our errors, keep centered and play constant volleyball during the match and this earned Bermuda Volleyball their first gold medal spherical award which I’d say was a really profitable end result.

“This U18 crew has a really shiny future and we hope to hold on this commonplace at our subsequent match which shall be Daytona Seashore over the weekend of Could 14th & fifteenth. On behalf of the Bermuda Volleyball Affiliation, I’d wish to thank all of our volunteer employees, parental and sponsor help as a result of with none of those we might not be capable to do what we do.

“The Bermuda Volleyball Affiliation shall be sending a Ladies U13 crew to the Rhode Island Rumble – Weekend #2 over the weekend of April twenty third. This crew shall be collaborating within the Ladies U13 Open division and can encompass 9 gamers and 10 touring adults. Nearly all of gamers on this crew made Bermuda Volleyball historical past in March 2020 as being the primary Bermuda Volleyball crew to earn a medal at a USA Volleyball sanctioned match. At that match the Ladies U12 crew earned a spot within the bronze medal spherical and took residence the Bronze Medal.”

For the upcoming match, Mike Gazzard, Head Coach of the Ladies U13 crew had this to say: “Like many different youth sports activities groups on the island during the last two years, the U13 crew has battled by way of the realities of COVID.

“By means of this era, our crew has remained centered on enhancing core elementary abilities, whereas additionally executing on extra superior offensive and defensive methods. The U13 crew shall be collaborating within the Open division of the Rhode Island Rumble, which is the highest stage of play for this age group within the US.

“Main as much as this match we have now steadily elevated the depth of our coaching periods and the crew have stepped up and responded nicely to the problem. As a crew, we’re excited to compete towards the most effective competitors within the beneath 13 age bracket. This match shall be a superb alternative for these athletes to showcase all their exhausting work and dedication during the last two years.”

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