Woman stops Macsood’s v-ball winning streak

Starlings Club’s coach Danwantee Nado Deonath achieved the most improbable in local volleyball history by becoming the first woman coach to win a Division One crown. In the process she stopped the winning streak of Macsood Ali’s Glamorgan, which was seeking their fifth consecutive senior title. The national senior team trainer is the head coach for Starlings, which created history by dethroning Glamorgan in their Trinidad and Tobago Volleyball Federation Women Division One final at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena, last Sunday. It was a sensational come from behind victory for Deonath and her girls as they showed tremendous character and determination after losing the first two sets at 17-25, 22-25. The now respected coach’s strategies and substitutions proved right as her team rebounded to clinch the other three sets and championship title in dramatic fashion at 25-23, 25-21,15-12. It was an historic victory for the San Fernando-based team, which claim the premier local women’s volleyball crown in their first year at the highest level.

It was an impressive showing by a team, which comprise only one senior player in their captain Nadiege Honore, and one former junior player in libero Michele Mohan against the four-time champions. The latter utilised the services of seven national senior and junior players with the calibre of Aisha Sealy (captain), KellyAnn Billingy, Jenna Ferguson, Madonna Bedenoch, Karina Moore, Ayana Dyette and Quando Gloudon. For Starlings, Susan Pierre, Stephanie Woodroofe, Avalon Taitt and Nancy Joseph were also outstanding as they provided their coach with the greatest achievement in her coaching career. Woodroofe was voted “Most Valuable Player” while Honore was declared as “Best Blocker” and Mohan the “Best Libero” for the Division One competition.

Deonath was elated and described the victory as “the happiest moment in my volleyball career. I am really happy for the girls. “They played according to my instructions and although we were down by two sets, I kept telling them that we could do it. That we can win the match but they have to be very forceful in the blocks especially against Kelly, they have to dive for everything and defend all balls that come over to the backcourt. Also they have to make better services because they did not serve well in the first two sets. “Some of them made too simple mistakes and allowed Glamorgan to take the first two sets. I was always confident that we could beat them and I am happy that we achieved our goal. After we played them in the first round, I studied all their plays and planned for the final,” she said.

Deonath had served as national trainer of the Trinidad and Tobago’s women’s team to the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Junior Championships in Martinique and the NORCECA Senior Women Championships to Santo Domingo. She has done wonders with the Starlings club, which captured the first ever Beach Volleyball Championships and now the Division One League crown. Popularly known as “Nado” to everyone in volleyball, she described the victory as the happiest moment in her volleyball career. “I always wanted to coach a team to win the national title and to beat Mascood was special. He is the best coach in the country and to beat him with so many national players will remain as my best achievement since I have been in volleyball. It’s a dream come true, and I thank God for giving us this victory,” she said. 

VOLLEYBALL 2003 HONOUR ROLL
Division One Women Champion: STARLINGS (Nadiege Honore, captain). Runner-Up: GLAMORGAN (Aisha Sealy, captain). Third: CHALLENGERS
Division One Men Champion: GLAMORGAN (Mark Daley, captain) Runner-up: Big SEPOS (Nolan Tash, captain) Third: TECHNOCRATS (Keegan Garcia, captain).
Division Two Women Champion: STARLINGS (Kystle Esdelle, captain)
Runner-Up: Big SEPOS (Stacey Small, captain)
Third: Southern United

DIVISION ONE AWARDS:
Most Valuable Player Women: STEPHANIE WOODROOFE (Starlings).
Most Valuable Player Men: SEAN MORRISON (Glamorgan).
Best Attacker Women: KELLY-ANN BILLINGY (Glamorgan).
Best Attacker Men: NOLAN TASH (Big SEPOS)
Best Blocker Women: NADIEGE HONORE (Starlings)
Best Blocker Men: ADRIAN JUSTIN AYERS (Southern United).
Best Setter Women: STEPHANIE WOODROOFE (Starlings)
Best Setter Men: SALEEM ALI (Glamorgan)
Best Passer Women: JENNA FERGUSON (Glamorgan)
Best Passer Men: KEVIN EDWARDS (Glamorgan)
Best Server Women: KELLY-ANN BILLINGY (Glamorgan)
Best Server Men: MARK DALEY (Glamorgan)
Best Libero Women: MICHELE MOHAN (Starlings)
Best Libero Men: KERISH MAHARAJ (Southern United)
Most Outstanding B Division Female Player: STACEY SMALL (Big SEPOS)
Most Outstanding B Division Male Player: PATRICK BABB (GNEW)
Most Improved Player Female: KARINA MOORE (Glamorgan)
Most Improved Player Male: SHEVONE CALLISTE (Challengers)
Volleyballer of the Year Female: KELLY-ANN BILLINGY (Glamorgan)
Volleyballer of the Year Male: SEAN MORRISON (Glamorgan).