NATIONAL Sports Commission (NSC) Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, says the Guyana Volleyball Federation’s (GVF) “Spikedown 2K19″ will significantly help to develop the sport.
Yesterday’s press conference at the NSC’s Mandela Avenue office, saw the pact being made by Jones along with GVF president Levi Nedd and organisers of the event, second year University of Guyana Law students Andre Jagnandan and Kristoff Shepperd.

The two students approached Director Jones as they were conscious that volleyball had been dormant and thus needed a new concept. In realising the importance of the sport and the vision of the youths, Jones said the NSC decided to fully sponsor the entire tournament.

“The NSC is pleased to be associated with the tournament. When we were approached we recognised that volleyball was dormant and we decided to come on board.
With 2019 coming to an end, Jones urged other associations and federations to promote more tournaments as they are willing to support. He also told the GVF that the NSC was willing to fully sponsor Male and Female tournaments before the year is out, once it is feasible.

Nedd, meanwhile, said that he was delighted to know that the resurgent idea was birthed from the minds of young students who have seen the importance of sport and academics.
The GVF head stated that the upcoming male tourney would be used as a measuring stick for national selection in 2020 for the various overseas events in which the sport usually engages.

The tournament will be played among seven teams, including Port Mourant Training Centre, Bartica Warriors, Young Achievers and others from the respective counties of Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice.
The tournament spikes off on November 30 at the National Gymnasium. (Clifton Ross)

FIXTURES:
Preliminaries
Saturday, starting-time 10:00hrs
Rollers Volleyball Club (VC) vs Vanguard VC
Bartica Warriors VC vs Premier Eagles VC
Young Achievers VC vs PMTC VC
Castrol Strikers VC vs Premier Eagles VC
Rollers VC v PMTC VC
Castrol Strikers VC vs Bartica Warriors VC
Vanguard VC vs Young Achievers VC
Rollers VC vs Young Achievers VC
Vanguards VC vs PMTC VC

Semifinals
Sunday; starting-time 10:00hrs
Winner of Group A vs Runner-up of Group B
Winner of Group B vs Runner-up of Group A
Finals (Sunday)
Third-place playoff
First-place playoff