TT junior women in v-ball final

Trinidad and Tobago women volleyballers, led by the dynamic Aisha Sealy, are set to create history today in Martinique when they play for the gold medal and retain the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Junior crown. Should they win it will be the third time in four championships. The Calypso Girls won the inaugural tournament in Barbados in 1997 and took it back in 2001 in Suriname. On this occasion they will have to produce outstanding all-round performance to enter their names into the regional volleyball record books. They opponent will most likely be archrivals Netherland Antilles. TT barely held off the challenge of the Dutch girls in their Group “B” preliminary match last Thursday to top the table and advance straight to the semi-finals. The scores were 20-25, 25-23, 25-12, 26-24.

Netherlands was due to tackle Barbados in the other semi-final encounter last night at the Salle Beasjeaur Stadium— venue for the finals today. Much will depend on star player KellyAnn Billingy to penetrate the defence with her power smashes and ace services. Once she gets her way, TT will be dancing for joy at the end. And she can expect excellent services from Sealy, Marina Camps, Dayna Augustus, Jenna Ferguson, Nadiege Honore, Madonna Bedenoch and Karina Moore. Yesterday, Sealy and her talented team smashed their way to the grand finale when they swept away Bahamas in command performance, winning 25-7, 25-12, 25-14. However, the TT junior men proved a big disappointment on Friday when they were humbled by the winless Barbados team. The Barbadians lost all three preliminary matches in Group “B” but  shocked  the overconfident TT with a superlative display, winning at 22-25, 23-25, 25-19, 20-25.

Junior Championships Results.
ON FRIDAY
Seventh Place Female: MARTINIQUE beat Antigua/Barbuda 8-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-17, 15-13.
Seventh Place Male: JAMAICA beat Aruba 23-25, 25-15, 26-28, 25-22, 15-8.
Quarter-Final Female: BAHAMAS beat Aruba 25-21, 14-25, 29-19, 25-22.
Quarter-Final Female: NETHERLAND ANTILLES beat Jamaica 25-21, 25-23, 25-20.
Quarter-Final Male: BAHAMAS beat Dominica 25-21, 14-25, 25-19, 25-22.
Quarter-Final Male: BARBADOS beat Trinidad and Tobago 25-13, 25-13, 25-20.
ON SATURDAY
Fifth Place Male: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO beat Dominica 25-12, 25-17, 25-19.
Semi-Final Female: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO beat 25-7, 25-17, 25-19.