Volleyball starts at Games in Samoa

VOLLEYBALL will be serving up the action today at the Samoa Pacific Games, with 13 nations competing at the National University of Samoa Gym.
Papua New Guinea, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tonga, Tuvalu and Wallis and Futuna will contest medals in the nine-day competition.
Papua New Guinea’s men’s and women’s sides did not win any medals when they were the hosts in 2015 but will go into this campaign with a lot more experience.
The first match in the volleyball tournament will showcase the talents of New Caledonia and Federated States of Micronesia.
The American Samoan women’s volleyball team were gold medalists at the 2015 Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea.
They were a young team, then, with 90 percent of the squad 22 years of age or under.
Three of that original team are coming to Samoa for another chance at gold.
Rachelle Saaava now aged 25, Saitaua Iosia, 24, and Litara Keil, 26, will be keen to repeat their result from 2015 , with the rest of the squad in Samoa.
The Wallis and Futuna men’s volleyball team are also bringing some experienced players from their gold-medal finish at 2015 Games in Papua New Guinea.
Boris Takianiko, Esekiele Sekeme, Petolo Kolokilagi,pou and Tali Tiniloa will be a steadying influence due to their previous Games experience.
Samoa have had their eye on a podium finish for some time.
The men’s team claimed bronze at Oceania National Indoor Volleyball Championship in New Caledonia last August.
They won against host nation New Caledonia, but lost to New Zealand, 0-3 sets, in the semifinals.
They used this event to prepare for the Samoa Games and will come into this event with the benefit of more experience under pressure and a home crowd who will be behind them all the way.
Like the Samoans, all the other teams will be playing their best to reach the top for medal in the coming days. – gamesnewsservice