Daynte Stewart can consider himself fortunate to have been born to two former volleyball players. His father Daymian has also served as an administrator with the T&T Volleyball Federation (TTVF) for over 20 years, holding the position of president for five years.
So at seventeen, the graduate of El Dorado East Secondary School is literally born into the sport and garnered a lifetime of knowledge and experience.
“I guess it is a big advantage because I have a lot of people who I can consider as family to give me any help I need in terms of technique or learning something,” he told Guardian Media Sports when asked about growing up in a volleyball environment.
The Arouca native added, “Learning different ways people play, and soaking it all in from all of those players have helped me as I try to become the best version of all of them. I want to the be the best, the number one player in T&T in both indoor and beach volleyball.”
Stewart who plays the outside position, admits that beach volleyball is his main focus these days and he is eyeing a spot on T&T’s Commonwealth Games team for next year’s event in Australia.
Currently ranked jointly at number-two in the country via the TTVF’s National League points system, Stewart is second only to Daneil Williams whom he has coincidentally partnered for the past three months. The two recently won the Barbados Independence Invitational Games which was Stewart’s first foray on the senior international stage having represented T&T at multiple age group levels.
The resident of Cunupia said, “It opened my eyes a lot, getting to play at a high level. It has been a good experience so far (playing with Daneil). He has guided me and showed me the ropes, but I still have a lot to learn form him so I’m just trying to soak up as much as I can.”
With volleyball riding a wave of recent success, Stewart is eager to carve his space in history. And as the sport’s popularity grows he said his pending emergence on the scene is perfect timing.
