Starlings clinch Second Division v-ball crown

Outstanding performances by skipper Krystle Esdelle, Solange Honore (vice-captain) and Leseli Phillip (outside hitter) enabled Starlings Volleyball Club to make a clean sweep of national women’s volleyball titles.

The Starlings defeated Big SEPOS in the Trinidad and Tobago Volleyball Federation Division Two match contested at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Chaguanas over the weekend. Their senior clubmates Nadiege Honore and Stephanie Woodroofe were the winners of the  inaugural National Beach Volleyball tournament. They got the better of their teammates Michele Mohan and Pauline in the final at Maracas Beach. Michele and Pauline had taken the “Mayaro Beach Queen” title. And to crown a very successful and historic season, new national star player Nadiege Honore, Mohan, Stephanie Woodroofe, Susan Pierre and Avalon Taitt snatched the Division One crown away from the once invincible Glamorgan which had won the senior title for four consecutive years.

It is heartening to note that their Division Two team played unbeaten in their four matches at  UWI in St Augustine and the South Regional Indoor Sports Arena. Against the UWI team, the Camille Khan-coached outfit registered two straight victories in the home fixture (25-18, 25-17 and 25-15)  and in their away match. However, it was the thrilling three sets (25-20, 32-30 and 26-24) victory over Big Sepos in the finals which sparked much joy among the younger players of the club. The victory marks the arrival of another Starlings team on the national scene comprising Arianne Williams, Candace Joseph, Elena Morrison and Kimberly Gomez as well as coach-player Camille Khan which featured in their successful defence of the Division Two title. A third Starlings team captained by Danielle Ali finished fourth overall in the same division.

Starlings Division Two manager Judith Honore said: “We are extremely pleased with the performance of the teams. This is quite an achievement for the club as we continue to make an impact on the local volleyball scene. We are happy to retain the Division Two title because our senior team was promoted to Division One and we had to utilise the services of the other younger players. “They really played well and we expect better performances in future competitions.”