The second Mini Volley Festival for this year was a huge success, with not less than 20 teams turning up for the event, thus increasing nearly twofold from the first one held in December last year. The format of 2-a-side volleyball, and with teams playing equally strong sides, has proved very beneficial, first of all for the players themselves, and also for the Malta Volleyball Association in its efforts to increase the volleyball sphere in Malta.

The 45 participants, divided into 20 teams, played continuously on the ten courts set up at the Cottonera Sports Complex, with each team playing six different opponents during the tournament. The Swiss System used made sure that teams were playing other teams who were at their same level, thus making sure that the players were kept motivated all throughout the tournament. Teams hailed from X-Sel, Fleur de Lys CFK, Aloysians, Kerygma, Paola, Flyers, and also from the Guze Galea Boys’ Secondary School of Qormi.

Notwithstanding the system used, Stephanie Borg, Eleanor Aquilina and Roxette Caruana, hailing from Paola Volleyball Club, showed that their basic techniques were slightly more refined than those of the others, and managed to win all their matches. Matthew Debono and Klinsmann Grech (G. Galea BSS), Matthew Camilleri and Maria Bonnici (Kerygma) and Mandy Cortis and Stephanie Said (Paola) were also very consistent throughout the whole festival, and surely produced some good volleyball, considering their tender age. All players, regardless of their placing, were given a certificate of participation at the end of the Festival.

For the next Festival, to be held this Sunday 20th March, 2005, the same formula will be used. Teams will play on a 2-a-side basis, on a 8 X 3 m court (4 X 3 m each half), and each match will last one set. Players have to be born on or after 1st January 1991 to be able to take part in these festivals.

The MiniVolley Festival will start at 10 am, and it will be held at the Cottonera Sports Complex, Cospicua. The Swiss system will be used to determine the opponents teams will face in each round.

All the other Mini Volley Rules, found on the MVA’s website, www.maltavolleyball.org, will be used.

All schools, youth centres and also individual volleyball players are encouraged to take part in these Mini Volley Festivals. Registration will be done on the day. For more information regarding these activities, you can contact the General Secretary of the M.V.A. on 79667788 or [email protected].