Volleyball Association salute the best

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Officials and award winners at the St Lucia Volleyball Association Recognition Evening.
Officials and award winners at the St Lucia Volleyball Association Recognition Evening.

The St Lucia Volleyball Association (SLVA) which had a lot to celebrate last year honoured their top players, officials and sponsors at Saturday’s Recognition Evening at Bay Gardens Hotel.
Attending the formal affair was the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Transformation, Local Government and Community Empowerment, Joanna Raynolds Arthurton, who delivered the feature address; Youth Development and Sports Officer, Saralee Williams; President of the SLVA, Brian Louisy along with other executive members.
Joseph Clercent emerged as the Senior Male Volleyball Player of the Year, while Dania Hamilton who is studying in Barbados was named Senior Female Volleyball Player of the Year.
Clercent was a dominant force in volleyball on sand and hard court. Along with partner Julian Biscette, they were bronze medallist at a NORCECA Beach Volleyball competition in St Lucia. Both players who are currently in training in San Diego, played key roles on the men’s National Team that won the 2012 ECVA championship, to advance to the NORCECA Inter Continental Championship set for the United States later this year.
Hamilton is also a key component of the Ladies Senior Volleyball Team which also won the ECVA Championship and like the men, advance to 2013 Inter Continental Championships taking place in Canada later this year.
The Youth Female Volleyball Player of the Year was Lisa Casimir with Augustin Faulkner  the Youth Male Volleyball Player of the Year.
Overall 2012 was highly productive for the association. Besides the national men and national women’s teams winning ECVA titles, St Lucia captured gold when Le Club Volleyball Female veterans won the first ever ECVA Veterans Ladies Championship here. In addition the Youth Male Under-17 side came away with a silver medal n the ECVA Championship in St Vincent, while the Ladies Youth Female team earned a bronze medal at the ECVA Championship.
It was indeed a busy year for the SLVA. President Louisy said: “We were extremely active throughout 2012, with outstanding events hosted virtually every month in all the key facets of the sport.”
He then outlined the various courses, programs and events beginning with the opening of the association’s national training facility at the Gros Islet Secondary School, with assistance from NORCECA.
No doubt about it, this facility has enhanced the national team’s training program. With that in mind, Louisy made a request to the ministry for another sports floor (again with NORCECA’s assistance) at an indoor venue, but expressed disappointment with their less than favourable response.
There were two special presentations made at this Recognition Evening.  The Soomer award which goes to the male and female who represent the “spirit of volleyball,” went to Cohen Cesar and Skye Mondesir. The recipients each received a $1,000 cheque from Angelina Soomer.
Coach of the National Ladies Team, Florian Combie who in his own quiet way continues to play a vital role in the association, received a special award for “going above and beyond coaching duties.”
Combie was not in attendance however his good friend President Louisy accepted on his behalf.

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