DEFENDING champions Wolmer’s Prep will continue the defence of their title as the quarter-final round of the 2016 Jamaica Independent Schools’ Association (JISA)/Tastee Limited Prep Schools netball competition continues today at the Leila Robinson Courts, starting at 1:45 pm.

Wolmer’s opening quarter-final round match this afternoon is against Our Lady of the Angels Prep at 2:30 pm, while the other match to be played at the same time is Vaz Prep against Emmanuel Prep.

The matches scheduled for 1:45 pm are St Catherine Prep versus Ardenne Prep, while two former champions will take on each other, Quest Prep up against Hydel Prep.

The teams are divided into two groups with the winners advancing into the final, while the runners-up will play off for third and fourth places.

Group A comprises Wolmer’s, St Catherine, Ardenne and Our Lady of the Angels Prep, while Group B has Vaz Prep, Quest, Hyde Prep and Emmanuel Prep.

Maurice Edwards, coach of Wolmer’s Prep, said this round is going to be very competitive.

“In the preliminary rounds, majority of the schools that were in my zone were not that strong, so I went on to win all my matches easily, but now it’s going to be much harder against stronger opponents,” Edwards said.

“Our first game will be against Our Lady of the Angels and they have a very good team and especially their shooter and goal-attack. However, we will be looking to come out with a win,” he added.

Eulalee Whitney, coach of Vaz Prep, said this round should be much tougher as the eight best teams will be vying for places in the final.

“Vaz is looking good and we are expecting the teams will be very competitive, but this will be a do-or-die for all of us. We, however, are hoping that the players will perform well as we are aiming to reach the final,” Whitney said.

Meanwhile, at the end of the preliminary rounds, St Catherine emerged winners of Zone One with 18 points ahead of Hydel with 15 points.

Zone Two was won by Quest with 18 points from second-placed Ardenne with 12 points, just nosing out Mona on goal difference.

Wolmer’s came out on top in Zone Three with 15 points ahead of Emmanuel on 12 points.

Vaz won Zone Four with 13 points ahead of Our Lady of the Angels with 13 points on goal difference.

— Gerald Reid