With the worry of not raising enough funds to continue in the competition weighing heavily on their minds, Bermuda's national women's volleyball surprisingly bowed out of the second round of regional qualifying for the World Championship on Saturday evening.

A day earlier, following defeat by their hosts Trinidad, Bermuda coach Jon Gazzard had warned that even if the team were to beat US Virgin Islands in the second round bronze medal match on Saturday, they would then have to raise some $12,000 in order to be able to play in the third round in Dominican Republic this coming weekend.

As it turns out, the cash crisis no longer matters, and the side can now concentrate on preparing for the Island Games in Aland which begin on June 27.

Bermuda had been favourites to defeat the Virgin Islands after a victory last week over Suriname (3-0) and then successive defeats to eventual gold medallists Trinidad (0-3) and silver medallists Netherland Antilles (2-3).

They lost a close first set to ISV 25-27, lost the second –21-25 before bouncing to win the next two sets 25-13, 25-10. However, in the decider they were crushed 15-6.

Trinidad, Netherland Antilles and Virgin Islands now head to Dominican Republic this weekend where they will face the host nation as well as Mexico and Panama. Cuba and the USA will enter the qualifiers later in the competition.

The Bermuda squad are scheduled to return tonight.

Last month they got off to a storming start in the qualifying tournament in St Martin, winning all three of their matches against other Caribbean islands.

The World Championship finals will be staged in Japan next year.