Morrison, Honore up for v-ball awards

Trinidad and Tobago junior stars Sean Morrison (Glamorgan) and Nadiege Honore (Starlings) are strong contenders for the Trinidad and Tobago Volleyball Federation’s “Male Player of the Year” and “Female Player of the Year” awards.

Both distinguished themselves in the local and regional competitions and could get the nod ahead of last year’s WITCO nominees Nolan Tash and KellyAnn Billingy. But that decision will not be an easy one for TTVF’s president Mushtaque Mohammed and his executive. They will have to await the results of the National Division One finals before announcing their decision at the annual presentation function. That was expected to be held after the men’s Division One final between Glamorgan and SEPOS at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena (CRISA), Chaguanas yesterday. Canada’s top international volleyball instructor Dr Paul Brasson was scheduled deliver the feature address.

Morrison led the national junior team to fourth position at the CAZOVA Junior Championships in Martinique and stands a good chance to clinch the National Division One club title once again. Should Tash’s SEPOS upset Glamorgan he will certainly get the “MVP” Division One award and edge out Morrison. Meanwhile, Honore has had the most impressive showing for a newcomer to the national senior women team. Her major rival for the TTVF “Women’s MVP” is Billingy who copped CAZOVA Juniors “MVP” and “Best Attacker” awards. Honore was outstanding as “Middle Blocker” and “Attacker” at these championships. But because no tournament stats were available, she probably, like national captain and setter Aisha Sealy lost out on the individual awards in Martinique.

TT won the overall title and four individual awards and according to a reliable source, the tournament officials did not want to give the Trinidadians all the major awards but wanted to share some to encourage the other finalists. However, in the efficiently organised NORCECA Senior Women Championships held in Santo Domingo, all statistics were compiled and Honore emerged as a star by placing third overall in the defensive department. She overshadowed established blockers, which hailed from the world’s leading volleyball countries — United States of America, Cuba, Santo Domingo and Canada. Sealy was fifth among the setters while Jenna Ferguson was sixth among the liberos. Billingy did not make the “Top Ten” among the attackers. Honore also partnered her Starlings clubmate Stephanie Woodroofe to become TT’s first ever “Beach Volleyball Queens” when they stopped their clubmates Michele Mohan and Pauline Woodroofe in the grand final at Maracas Beach. Coach Macsood Ali has done wonders with all the national women players to get them to lift their overall standard and performances. He should get the nod for “Coach of the Year.”