Speid confident of Olympic volleyball success
Having just missed top honours in the NORCECA first-round Olympic Qualifiers earlier this year, Jamaica Volleyball Association president Rudolph Speid is confident that his charges will qualify for the third round when they face their Caribbean rivals in second-round qualifiers next month.
The team finished the round second to Trinidad and Tobago after losing in a golden set play-off 15-13.
Next month, the men's CAZOVA-ECVA Inter-zonal Phase for 2016 Beach Volleyball Continental Cup is scheduled for Antigua and Barbuda.
Jamaica, St Lucia, CuraAao, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Suriname, US Virgin Islands, Antigua & Barbuda, Sint Maarten, St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, and St Vincent and Grenadines will square off in search of six qualifying spots.
Speid contends that the Jamaicans are motivated, training hard and ready to give a good account of themselves.
"We expect to go through to the third round. We will. That's a guarantee - unless we are disqualified. My guys here are in training every weekend and working hard. Three are overseas and they are training hard, also and ready," Speid told STAR Sports.
Based on those recent exploits of the women who won their open-round qualifier at home, and the men who finished second-best behind Trinidad away, Speid said he expects the Jamaicans to be among the six teams to advance from the second round.
The women's team won their first-round qualifiers here in Jamaica, and will be no doubt be hoping to continue their good run of form in this the Olympic year.