The Special Olympics Jamaica (SOJ) contingent staying at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus has not enjoyed anywhere close to the level of success achieved by the group housed at University of Southern California (USC).

Up to close of press yesterday, aquatics, athletics, bocce and badminton– all based at USC — had accounted for 19 medals. The basketball squad, also located at USC will play-off for gold versus Australia today. At UCLA, the story has not been as bright.

Jamaica’s female futsal players finished sixth in their division, while male unified footballers ended fourth in their category.

The female volleyball team is still engaged in games to decide the seeds for the medal round, but is yet to record a victory.

Yesterday, Jamaica’s futsal team lost 0-2 to Singapore in a play-off game for sixth spot at the UCLA artificial turf. Betty Stultz, the coach, was still in a positive mood despite the disappointment.

“The performance was good even though we went down. I think we put up a good fight and remember it’s the first experience for Jamaica at World Games with a futsal side,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Kemoy Phillips, one of the coaches for female volleyball, said the girls’ participation at these Games has provided invaluable experience, despite the string of defeats.

“The experience has been awesome working with the girls. There have been challenges, but it has been wonderful. We haven’t won a game, but we are enjoying playing the game and that’s a plus,” she said.

Jerome Earle, another of the female volleyball coaches, said the team still has hopes of winning a medal.

“They are playing well, there are some ups and downs, but we are working on it. We are still confident of getting a medal and we are not giving up,” Earle said.

Yesterday, the volleyballers lost 25-18, 19-25, 3-15 to fellow Caribbean side Trinidad & Tobago inside the volleyball arena at UCLA. They were scheduled to battle Russia in the day’s late encounter.

They previously lost to Bharat and to Croatia on Thursday.

Also yesterday at UCLA, the unified football team slumped to a 4-5 defeat on penalties to Republic of Korea after giving away an early 2-0 lead in regular time.

Cavar McKenzie and Stefan Bartley scored early in goals in the game, which featured 25 minutes per half. But Korea fought back to level the scores at 2-2.

In the total 15 minutes of extra time, neither side scored. But in the shootout, the Koreans were more clinical and secured bronze.

–Sanjay Myers