Zahra Collins has been appointed captain of the national Under-20 women’s volleyball team which will depart tomorrow for Martinique via Barbados with the aim of retaining its title at the Ninth Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Junior Women’s (Under-20) Championship crown from July 13 to 21.
Collins, who was captain of the Under-16 team which also lifted its CAZOVA divisional title last year is one of nine members of either the Under-16 or Under-18 team which were victorious at last year’s tournaments and coached by Macsood Ali.
The other members of the 2012 winning teams in this year’s 12-member squad are Young-sisters Reann and Kiana, Makila Yorke, Aliya Ross-Dick, Aaliyah Alexis, Latisha Morain, Tyajane Ramey and vice-captain Shakile Grannum.
The three newcomers include 12-year-old Nicolette De Mille, Kaylon Cruickshank and Megan Galt.
This year T&T will come up against Barbados, Guadeloupe, host Martinique as well as last year’s runner-up US Virgin Islands in the five-team tournament.
Last year in St Croix, USVI, T&T led by then Poland-based professional Channon Thompson stormed past USVI to capture the crown and earn a ticket to the Norceca Continental Junior (Under-20) Women’s Championship which was held in Managua, Nicaragua, a qualifier to FIVB Junior Women’s World Championships held earlier this year in Czech Republic.
The duo of Reann Young and Aliya Dick Ross are also graduates of the Under-16 women’s team which defeated Haiti in their CAZOVA final also played in USVI l;ast year and were recipients of the “Best Server” and “Best Receiver” accolades.
Squad
Players: Zahra Collins (captain), Shakile Grannum (vice-captain), Reann Young, Kiana Young, Makila Yorke, Aaliyah Alexis, Aliya Ross-Dick, Kaylon Cruickshank, Megan Galt, Nicolette De Mille, Tyajane Ramey, Latisha Morain.
Technical staff: Macsood Ali (coach), Saleem Ali (assistant coach), Idalmis Gato Moya (assistant coach/trainer), Kamla Elcock (manager).