The Bermuda Volleyball Association has seen an increased emphasis on recruitment lead to an upsurge in young talent playing the game.

“The junior boys have a really robust programme and our junior girls have split into under-18, under-16 and under-14 teams, which is really good,” said Elisabeth Rae, the coach of the Bermuda women’s team.

“We’re seeing a lot of kids and a lot of growth. The coaches made a bigger effort to recruit more. I coach at Bermuda High School and the schools are sending more kids saying, ‘you should do this’, or ‘you should give this a try’.

“[Instead of] relying on kids to express their own interest, we’re trying to reach out to the high school coaches and say, ‘who do you have who you think has potential? Send them to us.’ We’re just getting more numbers and we’re getting way younger.”

Among the graduates of the BVA youth programme is Leticia Ferreira, who was recruited by Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, when the Mounties won the Bermuda Open in April. She is playing in her first year there.

The domestic winter season is getting into full swing, with the Bermuda Open, women’s and men’s, taking place in the spring at Warwick Academy.

“The indoor leagues have just started, so we have a women’s league that runs on Monday nights, co-ed on Tuesday and men’s on Thursdays,” Rae said.

“Women’s league, we have 13 teams, co-ed 12 and men’s we have five, so it’s good training because all these youth teams are playing there, too, to get more match exposure.

“Planning is under way for the Bermuda Open. The women’s is happening from April 19 to 21. We’re looking to bring over eight teams from Canada and the US. The men’s Open will happen a little bit later.”