Bermuda's hopes of qualifying for the Junior Davis Cup tennis tournament have suffered a setback with senior team member Kieron Joyiens unable to compete in next week's event in Dominican Republic.

Joyiens is currently involved in studies abroad and, as such, is unavailable to join Bermuda team-mates Neil Towlson, Jack Keys and Rikai Burrows in the Caribbean where the islanders will look to improve upon their previous showing in the event.

Top ranked junior tennis player Towlson will lead Bermuda's charge in Dominican Republic while Jerome Bradshaw has been appointed team leader.

Bermuda finished 12th overall in last year's Junior Davis Cup qualifying tournament in Honduras where they failed to progress beyond the pre-qualifying stage.

In order to advance to the next stage of qualifiers to be held in the US in May, the Islanders will have to be on top of their game from the outset to achieve favourable results from their three matches (two singles and one doubles) in Dominican Republic, which will certainly be no easy task going into the event short on resources.

"We will have to try and win every match. It's going to take a lot of hard work," Bradshaw admitted.

"Unfortunately we were not able to get as many players as needed, but hopefully the players will gain experience and continue to go from strength-to-strength as individuals."

Of the 17 countries that will compete next week in Dominican Republic only one will progress to the knockout phase of Junior Davis Cup qualifiers.

The draw for next week's round robin event will be held tomorrow when Bermuda will finally learn of their opponents.

USA are the defending Junior Davis Cup champions.

n Veteran tennis administrator David Lambert has been re-elected as president as Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA).

Lambert was re-elected for a fifth time during this week's AGM.

Lambert thanked the tennis fraternity for their vote of confidence in him and vowed to take all interests into consideration in his decision-making.

In addition, Veronica Dunkerly is still treasurer while Allison Towlson, Gill Butterfield and Coleridge Place remain as vice-presidents.