The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

CONSIDER day one a learning experience for Team Bahamas as beach volleyball play began yesterday on the opening day of the VI Commonwealth Youth Games.

Both the girls' and boys' teams suffered lopsided defeats at the National Beach Soccer Stadium in their first game of the preliminary rounds.

The girls' team of Mechelle Moss and La'Tavia Braynen lost 21-5, 21-7 to England while the boys' team of Nathan Wert and Kyle Wilson fell to Cyprus 21-9, 21-13.

Despite the loss to a more experienced English side, national team head coach Renaldo Knowles said the team has progressed exponentially since training first began.

"To see where they came from, from the beginning to now I think it was a great start. We had a lack of practice, lack of proper facilities and I think they did a good job compared with what we were doing in practice," he said.

"Experience plays a lot and the teams we are facing have probably played a lot together so their chemistry is a lot better, that makes it a lot easier for them to do things that they need to do to win."

The English team of Yasmin Kaashoek and Ellena Austin rebounded from an early morning loss to top the Bahamas in their second match.

"We don't feel too good about it because we could have played more balls if we were ready but we weren't so that cost us the game," Braynen said. "We feel confident now that we played our first game. We don't feel shaky anymore so we are ready to go."

The Cyprus team of Constantinos Skordis and Sotiris Siapanis also defeated South Africa in their opening match of the day.

"It was pretty rough, our first match ever in a big tournament like this. I know personally I was pretty nervous but I think overall it came out good and even though it was hard I think we just tried to stay positive and do our best to the very end," Went said. "I think the major takeaway is where to be when the ball is hit and Kyle is at the net blocking, I think I have to be in ace to pick you the ball pretty quickly."

The second set was tied at five before Cyprus pulled away after a series of long rallies saw them take control. "We just need to learn to stay calm, not get frustrated and play the game we practiced and calm down. Our chemistry was a little shaky but going into next game it will be better," Wilson said. "We were really tired, we don't really do much conditioning so going into these long rallies it just places stress on our bodies."

Knowles said he expects both teams to adjust when play continues today.

"I'm confident we will do our best because them doing their best is all that we can ask of them. This is almost something new to them and for them to come out here on this stage, play in front of people and this magnitude of the tournament, I think it's great. They had a few long rallies and the players got a little fatigued. The conditions are harsh for them because they are new to it, that with the pressure of the game," he said. "I think they will have a better showing because they know what it takes, how to control their breathing, how to slow down the game so we expect a better showing."

The boys will return to the sand for a busy schedule when they will face St Lucia at noon and South Africa at 1:40pm. The girls will face Australia at 12:50pm.

The edition of the Commonwealth Games features beach volleyball ifor the first time ever in the competition program.

A total of 24 teams comprise the field, which is due to make its debut on the Commonwealth Games program at Gold Coast 2018.

The boys bracket includes Australia, Bahamas, Cyprus, England, Ghana, Jamaica, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, St Lucia, South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago.

The girls field includes Australia, Bahamas, Cameroon, England, Jamaica, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, St Lucia, Scotland, Trinidad and Tobago and Vanuatu.

"Some of the Commonwealth's finest beachside settings will be the sporting stage for beach volleyball when our exciting and engaging sport is presented for the first time ever at the Bahamas 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games, and then on the Commonwealth Games program in Gold Coast, Australia a year later in 2018," Ary Graça, President of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), said. "It's such an exciting time globally for this fast-paced and fast-growing sport and I've every confidence that fans will welcome its addition to the program."