Bermudians Gazzard & Weikl wrap their campaign with a hard battle
Bermuda’s dynamic beach volleyball duo of Olivia Gazzard and Sophie Weikl concluded their campaign at the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) Under 18 Beach World Championship Qualifier today, finishing in 10th place overall. The event, held on the sands of Juan Dolio Beach, served as a crucial qualifier for the FIVB U18 World Championship later this year in Doha, Qatar.
In their final match, a play-off for 9th and 10th position, Gazzard and Weikl faced Mariana Vindas and Luciana Soto from Costa Rica. The Bermudian pair battled hard but ultimately went down 2-0 to their Central American opponents. Vindas and Soto secured the win with set scores of 22-20 and 21-9 in a 30-minute battle, showcasing their strong performance in a tight first set.
This final match followed a series of hard-fought encounters for Gazzard and Weikl throughout the tournament. While they secured a convincing 2-0 victory over Anguilla (21-14, 21-11) earlier in the competition, they faced tough opposition from Mexico (21-8, 21-4) and the United States (21-3, 21-10) in their group stage.
Despite not achieving World Championship qualification – a feat that typically requires a top-five finish at the NORCECA qualifier – the experience gained by Gazzard and Weikl against top-tier international competition from the NORCECA region will be invaluable for their continued development in beach volleyball. Their performance in this highly competitive qualifier provided a significant platform for them to gain experience, learn, and grow as athletes, boding well for their future in the sport. The tournament concluded yesterday.
