Source: www.trinidadguardian.co.tt
Story by: Nigel Simon
Overseas-based University of T&T and national women’s team volleyballers, Sinead Jack, left, Channon Thompson and Krystle Esdelle during the recent Mark Daly Invitatational Tournament at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo. Photo: Anthony Harris The senior national women’s volleyball team stepped up its preparations for the Pan American Cup in Chihuahua, Mexico, June 29 to July 9, with the return of its five overseas players. The trio of France-based national captain, Krystle Esdelle of Third Division club, Quimper Volley; 17-year-old Poland based duo Sinead Jack and Channon Thompson, both of AZS Bialystok returned home late last month and were all part of the University of T&T squad that ended as runner-up to Technocrats in the Mark Daly Invitational Tournament. The USA-based pair of Darlene Ramdin (St John’s University, USA) and Renele Forde (Florida International University, USA) have also returned home as link up with the team coached by Cuban, Francisco “Panchee” Cruz.
Today, the team will continue with a training session at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Tacarigua from 5 pm while tomorrow the players will have a gym session at the University of T&T, Point Lisas Campas, before returning to Tacarigua on Friday. On Saturdays, Mondays and Tuesdays training is schedule for the Southern Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Pleasantville. The team is expected to leave T&T on June 22 for Mexico where it will enter a training camp at the Mexico Volleyball Development Centre until June 28. According to women’s team manager, during the camp the T&T squad, winners of senior Caribbean title for a third straight year in Suriname last July and fourth overall is expected to play warm-up matches against host Mexico and Puerto Rico, who will also be in camp at the same venue before leaving for Chihuahua.
Following the tournament, the T&T women will also compete at the Norceca Continental Championship in Caguas, Puerto Rico (September 10-18) and Continental Olympic Qualifiers carded for December 10 to 18 at a venue to be decided. Meanwhile, Indonesia-based Joelicia Ross is expected to be out of action for a year after undergoing successful surgery on her torn left ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) on Friday. The 26-year-old Ross suffered the injury while training with her club Petrokimia on April 10. She suffered the same injury to her right knee during her US-Collegiate playing career at Marshall University six years ago but made a speedy recovery and has been a fixture on the senior women’s team for the past three years.