Squad blend signals new era for volleyball ahead of Guam qualifiers
BY RICHARD MENANOPO
The Solomon Islands Volleyball Federation has named an extended national training squad blending experienced players with a new wave of youth talent, as preparations begin for the Oceania Indoor Volleyball Qualifiers for the 2027 Pacific Games.
In a letter circulated to media and stakeholders, Federation President Morris Maitaki said the selections are part of a broader rebuilding effort following the country’s absence from the 2025 Pacific Mini Games.
“This selection was based on our national team group that unfortunately did not participate in Palau, while also bringing in juniors identified through our development programmes,” Maitaki said.
The squads, which include men’s and women’s senior and under-19 teams as well as a beach volleyball unit, are expected to form the backbone of Solomon Islands’ campaign when the qualifiers are staged in Guam in August 2026.
A notable feature of the selection is the strong inclusion of youth players, many of whom were identified during an international coaching programme and later featured in the Oceania Under-18 tournament hosted in Honiara in April last year.
“Our juniors were identified by an international coach engaged by the federation and were part of the wider squads that competed in the Under-18 competition,” Maitaki explained.
He stressed that immediate access to high-performance training facilities will be crucial if the squads are to be competitive at the regional level, calling on relevant authorities to support preparations at the SINIS High Performance Centre.
“It is important that our national squads are allowed to do daily training at SINIS as we have very limited time to prepare for the Oceania Qualifiers,” he said.
Maitaki also revealed that the current squad could be expanded following the National Provincial Volleyball Championships in April, with additional under-19 prospects and senior players under consideration.
The men’s senior squad will be guided by head coach Jeffery Pasio and features players such as Chris Abba Andrew, Jeremia Amba, Hamilton Kasi and Ray Quan, alongside others named in the extended list.
In the women’s division, head coach Marina Baiabe leads a squad including Sussie Teno, Hannah Donga, Kersten Baimasi and Lorraine Osifela, with an emerging group of junior players also identified for long-term development.
The federation has also maintained a focused beach volleyball programme under head coach Fred Songeika, naming a compact squad drawn from both senior and junior ranks.
The upcoming qualifiers in Guam will determine qualification pathways to the Tahiti 2027 Pacific Games, making the next few months critical for team cohesion and conditioning.
With limited preparation time and a renewed emphasis on youth development, the federation’s latest selections signal a strategic shift aimed at rebuilding competitiveness on the regional stage.
The inclusion of junior players alongside experienced campaigners highlights a long-term vision — one that not only targets qualification for 2027 but also aims to strengthen the foundation of volleyball in the Solomon Islands.
Photo credit: Elton Lonaratha Jr
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