Bermuda Volleyball Association are urging the public to come out and support two women's national teams in the first Bermuda Open next month.

From May 3 to May 5, the BVA will host three sides — Downstate of Chappaqua, New York, the Orange Crush of Livingston, New Jersey and the Red Deer Queens from Alberta, Canada — in the local tournament in which they will enter two of their own teams.

The first two nights of round-robin play will be at Warwick Academy, starting at 7 p.m., and on Saturday, May 5 the end of round robin will be followed by play-offs at Mount Saint Agnes.

Gary Le Blanc, one of three coaches of the Bermuda teams, said: "This is the first time that we have ever tried to put something on like this so we're very excited to see it through.

"The coaches, Adam Wong and Stacey Dorush, along with myself, began a two-year strategy to prepare for the 2007 Small Island Games (in Rhodes).

"It's going to be a gruelling three days for our players but will be a good test to see how we stand up against that type of playing schedule since it will be similar to what we will see in Rhodes.

"The Open will be our last major training for Rhodes. Once the tournament is over we will have just under two months to make any modifications before we leave for the Games."

The NatWest Small Island Games began in the Isle of Man in 1985 to provide an opportunity for men and women from small island communities to compete.

Since the first Games they have been held every two years and have grown in popularity and in stature. The Guernsey Games in 2003 attracted over 2,000 competitors.

This year marks the third time Bermuda's women's national volleyball team will compete in the Games and they have undergone a rigorous practice schedule in preparation.

This week in Boston they'll compete at the MIT Beanpot Tournament, an event they travel to every year, and will return ready for the Open early next month.

Elizabeth Rae, captain of the team said: "We would like to make this (Open) an annual event. It is very expensive for us to go away and it can also be a vacation for the teams from abroad."

Updates on the tournament can be found on the website www.bermudavolleyball.bm.